On our last trip to Rainbow Reef, our divers experienced 6 Hammerhead sharks close by. Our Canadian Dive Instructor - Jon said “They didn’t even seem to notice we were there and we we able to observe them for some time”.

6 Hammerheads spotted at Rainbow Reef

Hammerheads are aggressive hunters, feeding on smaller fish, octopuses, squid, and crustaceans. They do not actively seek out human prey, but are very defensive and will attack when provoked.

Hammerhead sharks are consummate predators that use their oddly shaped heads to improve their ability to find prey. Their wide-set eyes give them a better visual range than most other sharks. And by spreading their highly specialized sensory organs over their wide, mallet-shaped head, they can more thoroughly scan the ocean for food.

Found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide, far offshore and near shorelines, hammerheads are often seen in mass summer migrations seeking cooler water. They are gray-brown to olive-green on top with off-white undersides, and they have heavily serrated, triangular teeth. Their extra-tall, pointed dorsal fins are easily identifiable.

Most hammerhead species are fairly small and are considered harmless to humans. Hammerhead populations are not accurately known, but appear stable worldwide, and they are not considered threatened.

This carnivore’s average lifespan in the wild is 20 to 30 years and grow in length 13 to 20 ft / 4 to 6 metres. They weigh from 500 to 1,000 lbs / 230 to 450 kg.

Did you know? Hammerheads use their wide heads to attack stingrays, pinning the winged fish against the sea floor.