The Shark Species I’ve Met
A personal look at the shark species I’ve encountered around the world — a mix of photography, field notes, and the stories that continue to shape my connection with the ocean.
Memorable encounters, favorite species, and the stories that stay with me
Over the years, I’ve encountered many species of sharks — from the gentle to the formidable, across reefs, open seas, and shadowed channels. Each meeting carries its own rhythm, its own quiet dialogue between curiosity and respect.
But some species stay with you. Their movement, their gaze, the light in that moment — they leave an imprint that lasts long after the dive is over.
These are a few of my favorite shark species — the ones that shaped how I see the ocean and continue to inspire the stories I tell through my lens.
Some sharks pass through your frame. Others stay in your mind.
Favorite Species from My Encounters
Years ago, I made a modest list of the shark species I hoped to see in my lifetime. I’ve since met many more, but these remain the ones that changed me — the species that drew me back into the water time and again.
Each has taught me something different about behavior, balance, and the quiet intelligence that defines sharks. Click below to explore their photographs, scientific details, and the personal stories behind each encounter.
Whale Shark
Genus, specific epithet: Rhincodon typus
Where I’ve seen them: Isla Mujeres (Mexico), Belize, Sea of Cortez (Mexico), Philippines
The largest fish in the sea, graceful and unhurried — a reminder that scale and serenity can coexist.
Tiger Shark
Genus, specific epithet: Galeocerdo cuvier
Where I’ve seen them: Florida (U.S.), Tiger Beach (Bahamas), Fuvahmulah (Maldives)
A solitary wanderer, precise and patient beneath endless blue.
Thresher Shark
Genus, specific epithet: Alopias vulpinus
Where I’ve seen them: Malapascua (Phillipines)
A hunter wielding a whip-tail, swift and silent in silver light.
Blue Shark
Genus, specific epithet: Prionace glauca
Where I’ve seen them: Atlantic U.S., Cabo San Lucas (Mexico)
Elegance in motion — cobalt hues gliding across temperate seas.
Horn Shark
Genus, specific epithet: Heterodontus francisci
Where I’ve seen them: Southern California (U.S.)
A nocturnal local with spiral eggs and steady grace — California’s quiet companion of the kelp.
Bull Shark
Genus, specific epithet: Prionace glauca
Where I’ve seen them: Florida (U.S.), Playa del Carmen (Mexico), Cabo Pulmo (Mexico), Palau
Elegance in motion — cobalt hues gliding across temperate seas.
Leopard Shark
Genus, specific epithet: Triakis semifasciata
Where I’ve seen them: Southern California (U.S.)
California’s coastal mosaic — spotted elegance gliding over kelp and sand.
Wobbegong Shark
Genus, specific epithet: Orectolobidae family
Where I’ve seen them: Raja Ampat (Indonesia)
A master of disguise — blending into the reef until the reef itself seems alive.
Silvertip Reef Shark
Genus, specific epithet: archarhinus albimarginatus
Where I’ve seen them: New Guinea (Indonesia), Maldives
A guardian of the reef’s edge, flashing silver as it cuts through the blue.
Oceanic Whitetip
Genus, specific epithet: Carcharhinus longimanus
Where I’ve seen them: Cat Island (Bahamas)
Drifting through the blue with quiet authority — a graceful survivor of the open sea.
Great Hammerhead
Genus, specific epithet: Sphyrna mokarran
Where I’ve seen them: Florida (U.S.), Bimini (Bahamas), Tiger Beach (Bahamas), Belize
A wide-eyed hunter shaped by evolution and mystery.
Zebra Shark
Genus, specific epithet: Stegostoma tigrinum
Where I’ve seen them: Palau, Maldives
The patterned dream of the Indian Ocean, graceful and curious among coral labyrinths.
Spinner Shark
Genus, specific epithet: Carcharhinus brevipinna
Where I’ve seen them: Florida (U.S.)
Spiraling through the surface — speed and grace fused into motion.
Seven-Gill Shark
Genus, specific epithet: Notorynchus cepedianus
Where I’ve seen them: Southern California (U.S.)
A relic of prehistory — seven gills, one purpose: to endure through ages of change.
Great White
Genus, specific epithet: Carcharodon carcharias
Where I’ve seen them: Southern California (U.S.), Guadalupe Island (Mexico)
The ocean’s apex nomad — powerful, elusive, and endlessly misunderstood.
Walking Shark
Genus, specific epithet: Hemiscyllium ocellatum
Where I’ve seen them: New Guinea (Indonesia)
This small reef species uses its fins to stroll across tide pools — evolution’s quiet experiment in adaptation
Shortfin Mako
Genus, specific epithet: Isurus oxyrinchus
Where I’ve seen them: Cabo San Lucas (Mexico)
The ocean’s athlete — precision, speed, and fire beneath polished steel.
Angel Shark
Genus, specific epithet: Squatina californica
Where I’ve seen them: Southern California (U.S.)
The ocean’s quiet ambusher — wings of sand, patience of stone.
What These Encounters Have Taught Me
Every favorite here represents more than a photograph — it’s a moment of realization. Each species reminded me that beauty in the ocean isn’t always about spectacle; sometimes it’s about patience, presence, and paying attention.
Photographing sharks taught me that curiosity is the truest form of respect.
Explore Further
These are just a few of the sharks I’ve had the privilege to meet. To discover more about their roles in marine ecosystems — and what’s being done to protect them — visit Shark Conservation & Science →