Sharky ponders sharks...

[sharky60]

...so what's the deal with all the REAL sharks showing up on Cozumel reefs all of a sudden?

Sure occaisionally we get reports of "black tips" (I think they're really Caribbean Reef sharks), at the far South dive sites, but here recently there have been a lot more reports then usual.

cvchief posted a photo of a shark on Facebook taken this week that is either a fat Caribbean or a Bull.

Is this a seasonal thing? or is it due to the Lion fish population, something has to eat those things in the Pacific, are sharks moving into the reef looking for Lion fish?

All I've ever seen on Cozumel are Nurse sharks, I always figured there have to be others there, (it's the ocean, right?), but I just figured they came into the reef from deeper waters at night.

Anywho. Lookin' for y'all's thoughts on the subject...gracias!

 

[diveprof]

I agree with you. I saw more sharks on my August trip than in previous years - almost every dive though most were nurse. I've seen both blacktips and caribbean reef. I'd like to think this is from enforcement of the marine park regs.

 

[Tigerman]

Well, many shaks are pelagic, which make them a bit less likely to be seen on/near reefs..
I cant say for cozumel atm, but there IS known "shark migrations" to certain areas at certain times - Like sea-mammal calving seasons..

 

[AggieDiver]

On Little Cayman, when divemasters started spearing lionfish and feeding them to groupers, the sharks showed up and quickly learned to follow the DM for a free meal. Because of that, they stopped spearing lionfish on every dive and only do it once a week on staff-only dives. The sharks still hang around and don't seem as afraid of divers as they once were.

I wouldn't be surprised if the sharks near Coz are starting to learn some of the same behavior if there are active efforts to kill lionfish there.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

I'll go along with the pelagic guess. Before all I ever saw (since 1972) were small black tips and nurse sharks. Truly odd, but just after Wilma beat up Cozumel in 2005 we started seeing lots of Caribbean Gray Reef sharks which are much bigger than Black Tips. They hung out in the Punta Sur Sur area mostly...and Ron Lee and I had physical contact with one in a tight swim through. We have not seen any recently that I know of, but when you see one you know it is a lot bigger than a Black Tip.

We know there are bull sharks and tiger sharks in the area but they normally stay below 200 ft, at least during the day. There have also recently been sightings of a Great Hammerhead at Paradise Reef of all places, but the only places I have seen them is Maricaibo and Punta Sur.


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers
Bienvenidos - Aldora Divers | Only the best of Cozumel
Aldora Divers

 

[deborahdelamar]

Thinking about Chief's shark yesterday: The sky had a lot of black clouds (this Norte was announcing itself) though it was sunny at times. Underwater, it wasn't so bright. Pelagics come to the reef to feed, usually at night, but I'd think they wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of an overcast day as well.

Yesterday, our REEF group saw an unusually high number of black and yellowfin groupers actively hunting and feeding on the reef -- even lots of the smaller groupers (coney, graysby) were piled high outside little holes on the reef. Many morays were out of their holes and large schools of round scad and bar jacks swimming from the west into the reef area. (Maybe running from Chief's shark?!)

Anyhow, I feel that what we saw yesterday was natural and normal if it had happened much, much later in the day. Maybe people who report incoming pelagics should also talk about the weather and reef fish behavior on the days those critters are seen. That could be revealing.
.

 

[cvchief]

So its on this thread...(Wife's pic which isn't too bad):





And my video: (Looks like a fake loch ness or yeti or bigfoot doesnt it?)

 

[Tigerman]

I think it looks a bit like this actually

 

[oceanbound]

i've never seen a shark in Cozumel. now another reason to want to get back there soon.

 

[Tigerman]

Ive only been there once and didnt see any sharks either. I did however see a shark near Cancun and a whole LOT of VERY big sharks called whalesharks tho