Sharks

Along the Welsh coast, a peaceful morning walk has turned into a disturbing discovery as dog walkers found hundreds of dead catsharks and fish washed ashore. The scale and concentration of the wash-up suggest something far more serious than a routine strandings, raising fears of an industrial fishing incident just offshore.

A rare “ghost shark” has been rediscovered thriving in a remote Indonesian river, overturning assumptions that the Ganges shark was nearly gone. The finding of 43 specimens in North Kalimantan suggests the species may be far more resilient - and far more overlooked - than scientists once believed.

Explore seven of the world’s most compelling shark dive destinations, where thrilling close encounters with apex predators are balanced by safety, conservation, and careful observation. From the iconic great white waters of Gansbaai and Guadalupe Island to diverse reef and open-ocean sites, each location offers a unique mix of adrenaline, ecology, and unforgettable underwater photography.

Your survival instincts are lying to you, tricked by the "Jaws" effect that amplifies shark fears despite just 4-12 global deaths yearly, while ignoring true killers like mosquitoes. These tiny insects, spreading malaria, claimed around 610,000 lives in 2024 - over 50,000 times more than sharks - mostly young children in sub-Saharan Africa. availability heuristic and negativity bias make vivid threats loom large, blinding us to mundane dangers hiding in plain sight.

Meet the frilled shark, a eerie, eel-like "living fossil" that's prowled the deep ocean for 80 million years with barely a change, its frilly six-gill collar and trident teeth straight out of a nightmare. This slender, 2-meter predator undulates like a snake to ambush squid in the crushing dark, thriving where stability rules and evolution hits pause. Rare sightings reveal a survivor from dinosaur days, guarding secrets of the abyss.

Ever wondered about the sea's giants that look fierce but are gentle souls? Meet the whale shark, Earth's largest fish - a bus-sized filter feeder gliding through tropical waters, slurping up plankton with mouths that process over 6,000 liters of water hourly, yet harmless to humans. And don't miss the great white's acrobatic breaches or the bull shark's stealthy prowls - these majestic predators reveal the ocean's thrilling diversity!

In 2025, shark bites worldwide reached 68 confirmed cases as of December 24, including 11 provoked incidents and 11 fatalities - aligning with historical averages but exceeding typical death rates. The U.S. led with 28 bites (Florida topping at 15), while Australia followed with 15 bites and 5 deaths, highlighting hotspots where human beachgoers overlap with sharks. Though rare - with fatal odds at 1 in 4.3 million - these encounters remind us to stay vigilant in peak summer waters.