What Divers Should Know About
Great White Shark

Distinguished by its robust build, grayish upperside, and contrasting white underside, the Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is an unmistakable presence in the ocean. This powerful species ranks among the largest living sharks, possessing around 300 continuously replaced, serrated teeth. Its massive, fatty liver provides critical buoyancy, and being partially warm-blooded allows it to remain active across a broad temperature range.

These highly migratory sharks inhabit tropical to temperate ocean waters globally, frequenting both coastal areas and the open ocean. Divers are most likely to observe them nearshore archipelagos, offshore reefs, banks, and headlands, with significant feeding aggregations drawing attention in places like Guadalupe Island, Mexico, and South Africa's Western Cape. While often encountered near the surface, these predators are capable of impressive deep dives, reaching up to 1,300 meters, especially in the open ocean.