Where are grey reef sharks found?

They occur across the Indo-Pacific, from South Africa eastward to Easter Island, and are most often encountered in shallow water near coral-reef drop-offs.

What do grey reef sharks eat?

They feed primarily on free-swimming bony fishes and cephalopods.

How do grey reef sharks reproduce?

They are viviparous: embryos are nourished via a placental connection, and females give birth to litters of one to six pups every other year.

Are grey reef sharks dangerous to divers?

They have been responsible for several attacks and can perform a threat display; they should be treated with caution, especially if they begin to display.

Do grey reef sharks form groups?

Yes — they are social and often form groups of about five to 20 individuals near reef drop-offs during the day, dispersing at night to hunt; adult females sometimes group in shallow water.

How large do grey reef sharks get?

Most individuals are less than 1.88 m (6.2 ft) long.

What does a grey reef shark's threat display look like?

The display includes a hunched posture with dropped pectoral fins and an exaggerated side-to-side swimming motion, used as a warning when they feel threatened.

Why are grey reef shark populations at risk?

They are caught in many fisheries and are vulnerable to local population depletion because of their low reproductive rate and limited dispersal.

Where to See Grey Reef Shark While Diving

The grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a requiem shark of the family Carcharhinidae found across the Indo-Pacific, from South Africa to Easter Island. It is commonly encountered in shallow water near coral-reef drop-offs. Individuals usually measure less than 1.88 m (6.2 ft). Distinctive features include a broad, round snout, large eyes, a plain or white-tipped first dorsal fin, dark tips on the other fins, and a broad black rear margin on the tail fin; it lacks a ridge between the dorsal fins. Grey reef sharks are fast, agile predators that feed mainly on free-swimming bony fishes and cephalopods. Many have a home range on a specific reef area and are social rather than strongly territorial: during the day they often form groups of about five to 20 individuals near drop-offs, then disperse in the evening to hunt. Adult females may form groups in very shallow water. Reproduction is viviparous, with litters of one to six pups born every other year. This species performs a characteristic threat display (a hunched posture, dropped pectoral fins, and exaggerated side-to-side swimming) and has been responsible for a number of attacks on humans; it should be treated with caution, particularly if it begins to display. The grey reef shark is caught in many fisheries and is vulnerable to local depletion due to its low reproductive rate and limited dispersal. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as endangered.

Assessed by the IUCN as endangered; susceptible to local depletion from fisheries due to low reproductive rate and limited dispersal.

Many individuals maintain a home range on a specific reef area; they are social and often form groups of about five to 20 near reef drop-offs during the day, dispersing in the evening to hunt. Adult females may form groups in very shallow water.

The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as Ari Atoll, Coral Coast, Viti Levu, Gizo and Western Province and countries such as Maldives, French Polynesia, Egypt for divers building trips around grey reef sharks.