Maximum length: 2.5 m

Depth: 10 - 250 m +

It has a torpedo-shaped body with a broad, round snout.

The dorsal fin usually begins at the level of the free end of the pectoral fins.

The upper side of the body shows a light to dark grey,

more rarely brownish colouring, the caudal fin has a black edge.

The first dorsal fin is usually unmarked.

Inhabits lagoons, channels and outer reefs.

Photo 1 Johnny: Embudu Maldives

 Maximum length: 3.5 m

Depth: 0 - 150 m

Potentially dangerous, can constantly circle divers.

However, only a few attacks known.

In the surface water of deep seas, rarely near the coast.

In the Red Sea regularly around anchored safari boats on coral reefs far from the coast.

Accompanied by pilot fish.

Photos 1 - 3 Johnny: Little Brother Egypt

 Maximum length: 2 m

Depth: 0 - 75 metres

With a body length of 160 to a maximum of 200 centimetres,

the blacktip reef shark is a small shark with a broad, blunt snout.

The first dorsal fin begins at the level of the end

of the free inner edge of the pectoral fin.

Its basic colour is grey-brown, all fins have a black tip

with a black edge on the caudal fin.

The first dorsal fin has a very conspicuous black tip.

Inhabits reef tops, shallow lagoons and outer reefs.

Usually harmless.

Very shy and difficult to approach.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Embudu Maldives

 Maximum length: 3.3 m

Depth: 1 - 70 m

They have a pointed, flattened snout and small eyes in relation to their body.

They have no nictitating membrane to protect the eyes.

The long pointed teeth are pointed strongly forwards.

They prefer to live alone in shallow water layers near the coast or on coral

and rock reefs in areas further from the coast, where they feed mainly on fish.

When swimming, sand tiger sharks always have their mouths slightly open

so that their long, sharp teeth are visible. This gives them a dangerous appearance.

However, they are not aggressive.

Photos 1 - 3 Astrid: Barcelona Spain ( Aquarium )

 Maximum length 5.5 m (it is assumed that some animals can grow to over 7 m in length)

Depth: 0 - 800 metres

The tiger shark has an elongated body, its snout is comparatively flat,

broad and angular.

It is the only grey shark that has suction holes.

It got its name because of its mackerel pattern, which only the young animals have

and which fades or even disappears completely with increasing age.

This photo, the only one I have, was taken from the boat

on the way to the dive sites in 2011 when he was briefly seen on the surface,

and since then I have never been lucky enough to see one again, diving or otherwise.

Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

 Maximum length: 4.30 m

Depth. 1 - 70 m

Their torso is slightly flattened.

Nurse sharks have short to long barbels at the nostrils

and very small blowholes behind the eyes.

They have no nictitating membrane.

The relatively small mouth is covered with small teeth.

Their 4th and 5th gill slits are very close to each other

above the pectoral fin and almost overlap.

Nurse sharks are sluggish, gregarious and bottom-dwelling sharks

that can be found on rocky or coral reefs and on sand

and mud flats down to depths of around 70 metres.

The prey of these nocturnal hunters are various invertebrates,

such as sea urchins, crabs, lobsters, squid and octopus, as well as bony fish.

They simply suck out prey hidden in crevices or under rubble by opening their mouths

and rapidly expanding their gullets.

They are only dangerous to humans if they are provoked.

Photos 1 - 3 Johnny: Oberhausen Germany ( Aquarium )

 Maximum length: 1.2 m

Depth: 50 - 200 m

It has a light brown, light grey to white body colouring

with numerous striking dark brown to black stripes

that run vertically across the body from the head to the tail.

The shark has a cylindrical body with a conically shaped head.

The snout is very small and broadly rounded, the eye ridges are low and pronounced

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Oberhausen Germany ( Aquarium )

 Maximum length: 1.5 m

Depth: 1 - 200 m

The back and flanks of the spotted smooth dogfish

are dark brown to brown in colour with light spots.

After internal fertilisation and a gestation period of about 10 months,

the females give birth to 10 - 20 young, each about 30 cm in size.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Oberhausen Germany ( Aquarium )

 Maximum length: 14 m

Depth: 1 - 130 m

Can weigh up to 45 tonnes

These sharks are slow giants that like to be accompanied by small jacks and tunas.

Often curious towards divers, but harmless.

Plankton filter feeders.

Photos 1 - 5 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Photos 6 - 14 Johnny: Oslop Philippines

 Maximum size: 1.05 m

Depth: 10 - 780 m

Harmless bottom shark that sleeps during the day

and actively hunts prey on the seabed at night. 

At spawning time, around 18 - 20 eggs are hung

in pairs in horn capsules on stones or similar.

Photo 1 Johnny: Oberhausen Germany ( Aquarium )

 Maximum length: 4.3 m

Depth: 5 - 275 m

Non-aggressive except when agitated by wriggling fish.

They are found on steep reef slopes of offshore islands

and underwater ridges, usually in cooler water below the thermocline.

They mainly eat fish, but do not spurn rays,

which are pushed to the bottom with their heads and then eaten.

Photos 1 - 3 Astrid: Big & Little Brother & Daedalus Egypt

Photos 4 - 10 Johnny: Big & Little Brother & Daedalus Egypt

Maximum length: 3.6 m.

Depth: 5 - 65 metres

They are particularly notable for their disproportionately large caudal fin,

which can almost reach the length of the rest of the body.

They have two dorsal fins without spines,

the first of which is much larger than the second.

Inhabits the sandy rubble or coral substrate of lagoons and canals.

Not shy.

Photos 1 - 3 Johnny: Embudu Maldives

Maximum length: 2.10 m 

Depth: 1 - 40 m

This shark has a slender body with a short and broad head,

the snout is flattened and rounded.

The dorsal colour is grey to brownish with an individual pattern of black spots,

the belly is white.

The tips of the first dorsal fin and the upper caudal fin lobes,

sometimes also those of the second dorsal fin

and the lower caudal fin lobes, are bright white.

Often rests during the day on sand or rubble in caves,

channels or under overhangs.

Not aggressive.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi

Photos 3 - 6 Johnny: Embudu Maldives