Bull Shark with Pup

[tendi]

I recently did a bull shark dive in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. We saw a mommy shark with a pup. I can't find anything online saying sharks keep their young with them. The divemasters said they see this from time to time and they weren't aware sharks did this either til they saw it. Does anyone know anything else about this?

 

[GregT943]

Are you sure it was bull shark pup and not just a smaller grey reef shark? Were you with an dive op that was feeding the sharks or chumming to attract them. Grey reef sharks are in the area and they could be mistaken for a small bull shark. The two can look similar sometimes. Shark feeding dives can attract multiple species that ussually dont like to share the same space

 

[smellzlikefish]

No grey reef sharks in Playa (or the western Atlantic in general). Perhaps you meant Caribbean reef sharks?

 

[tendi]

No chumming/feeding. We only saw one shark at a time except for these two. Given the size and they way they behaved and swam together, I don't know what it could be besides a pup (and no, it was not a remora). I asked several divemasters and they all said the same thing. They didn't know sharks did this before they witnessed it themselves and they have seen it multiple times in this area. If I ever get unpacked and download my pics/video, I'll try to post it so you can see yourself.

 

[tendi]

Ok...Here's the link...

Bull Shark with Pup - YouTube

 

[deeper thoughts]

thnx for sharing

 

[DeepBlueResort]

Hi

I would say that is not a baby shark, it looks like a cobia, very often seen swimming with sharks

 

[EastEndDiver]

Agree with DeepBlue ,if you look at the fin structure of the smaller fish it does not match the Bull or any other shark I can think of.I would think it is either a Cobia or a large Remora.

 

[tendi]

After looking at some other pics online, I think you're right. It looks like a Cobia. Thanks for solving the mystery.