Large hammerhead in Coz

[Big Toes]

just got back from cozumel a couple of days ago. about midway through our trip we were diving santa rosa when a hammerhead, probably around 16' or so, took a cruise by us and eyed my german buddy prior to heading off into the deep. (size based on his 6'5" height; it was easily twice that). suffice it to say, it was a monster.

so my question would be 'has anybody seen one of these this big out there?' and is this just really unusual? some of the local guides with DWM and dive house are apparently pretty impressed at the 8 footers that they have seen out there, but not a lot of mention regarding anything larger.

thanks.

 

[Belmont]

I've seen a 15 footer in the Bahamas, the lenght does not tell everything, the girth is awsome.

 

[Big Toes]

it was freakin' spectacular to say the least. not to mention a mandatory wetsuit change by a couple in our group

 

[ibj40]

On a dive to Maracaibo, a couple of years ago, we were just dropping off the boat, down around 100 or so, and looking down the wall, maybe at 150, we saw one (divemaster and I, that is - we signaled "hammerhead" by putting our fists to the sides of our heads, but no one else paid attention). Without a point of measurement, I'm saying it was in the 10 to 12 foot size.

Haven't seen one since, but it was pretty incredible.

 

[firstdive2005]

Dude put this in the Cozumel forum.

 

[Big Toes]

how how do i do that? figured it should be in the 'shark' forum.

 

[deco_martini]

Its not Coz specific. I am guessing that you will find large hammerheads on any reef system where you have depths of 300+ feet. You just don't normally see them in the 100ft you dive.

 

[Big Toes]

we were at about 90' when it gave us the fly-by. actually have a pic i'm going to post where it dropped down to around 150' or so. very weird...

 

[deeper thoughts]

we were at about 90' when it gave us the fly-by. actually have a pic i'm going to post where it dropped down to around 150' or so. very weird...

Waiting for the pix thnx

 

[arfy]

That sounds like a Great Hammerhead to me, given the size - count yourself very lucky to have seen one, these guys are not easy to come by! They are far more impressive than your usual 'scalloped' hammerhead shark and are in a totally different league.