Found in coastal waters throughout all the world’s major oceans, Great White Sharks are sometimes called white pointers, and in some cases, they are referred to as White Death. Capable of attaining a length of over twenty feet, and a weight of about five thousand pounds, these sharks can live to be more than thirty years old. Striking fear into the hearts of surfers, and sought after by cage dive operators, these incredible predators prefer to eat seals and fish; and, while they are ranked first in attacks on humans, we are not their preferred prey.
Great White Facts
Thought to have dominated the oceans for the last sixteen million years, the great white shares many similarities with C. Megalodon, a prehistoric shark species with teeth seven inches long, and is also believe to be related to ancient Mako Sharks. These sharks thrive in water between 54 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and have been known to travel as far as four thousand miles in search of seasonal prey.
The greatest concentrations of great white sharks can be found in the Atlantic Northeast and California coastal areas of the United States, as well as in Japan; they are also found in Chile, the Mediterranean, New South Wales and South Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, with a heavy population around Dyer Island.
While we encounter great whites in relatively shallow waters, particularly when they come very close to shore to feed on sea lions and fur seals, they are known to dive to great depths and have been recorded at a depth of 1,220 meters.
These sharks, like many other marine species, display countershading, with dark grey to blue or brownish dorsal areas and white ventral surfaces that provide camouflage. As do most other sharks, great whites have rows of serrated teeth, which saw manageable bites off their prey during the side to side motions displayed during a feeding episode. As the sharks lose their teeth frequently, new ones come forward regularly to replace those that have been lost or swallowed when embedded in a food item.
Once feared and even loathed, the Great White is today much more popular than it ever was, with divers signing up months or even years in advance for the opportunity of an up close and personal encounter during a cage dive. Scientists have been tagging the animals for quite some time, and have been coming up with interesting data that give us a great amount of insight. For instance, California’s great whites are known to migrate to an area called White Shark Cafe, which is at a remote location about halfway between Hawaii and Baja California. While some believe this may be a mating ground for the sharks, the true purpose of their annual visits to the area has not been confirmed. What is known is that the sharks come back to California in time for the Elephant Seal breeding season.
Great whites take about 15 years to reach their adult size, and while little is known about their mating habits, researchers have discovered that gestation lasts 11 months. Pups are born live, and swim away immediately after birth, receiving no care from their mothers; their jaws and teeth develop in utero, and they are born with the ability to hunt small fish.
The best and safest way to encounter a Great White is to enjoy a cage dive in an area where the sharks are prolific. Cage diving is popular in places like South Africa and New Zealand; and as air is supplied from a hookah system onboard the boat, and as no swimming or actual diving is involved, even non-divers can participate in what is probably one of the most thrilling encounters you might ever enjoy. Research and book in advance – these tours are in demand.