Introduction
Have you ever wondered why sharks get such a bad rap from humans? It surely can’t be because of their razor-sharp teeth, craving for blood, or uncanny hunting skills, right? In actuality, it is! Sharks, in general, epitomize human fear. There have been over 6,000 shark attacks ever recorded, however, the United States, South Africa, and Australia take the cake for most shark attacks in the world. Specifically, the United States clocks in at over 1,600 shark attacks with over 60 fatalities, South Africa with 350 shark attacks and nearly 100 fatalities, and Australia with 700 shark attacks and over 150 fatalities.
But, like any beast, certain species will cause far more damage to your precious limbs than others. So, If you love all of your members, like me, I would recommend taking a seat for this one. This is the list of the most dangerous sharks in the world including the most recent attacks Steven Spielberg wishes he had read about before paper macheing whatever we want to call that thing in Jaws.
1. The Great White Shark
Beyond being Spielberg’s muse, the great white shark may just be the most dangerous predator in our big blue ocean. Measuring 11 to 21 feet, it can propel itself at over 40 miles per hour. So, no use swimming away because the fastest recording speed anyone has ever swam is 5.3 miles per hour! Beyond their spirited hunting skills, they lack color vision which is why they may mistake you for a seal and enjoy warm waters, but don’t we all?
Responsible for the most shark attacks in the world, the great white shark has committed over 350 attacks with roughly 60 fatalities involved. The most recent attack took place on July 25, 2024, off the North Shore Beach at Port Macquarie in New South Wales which ended in serious injuries – Kai McKenzie while surfing and lost his right leg to the shark. Another shark attack on August 7, 2023, at Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York resulted in major injuries to Tatyana Koltunyuk’s left thigh. So, knowing that an attack is possible, it is important to react quickly if you are ever in the presence of one of these large predators.
If you encounter a great white, don’t panic! I know–easier said than done, right? These sharks, however, are not mindless. Maintain eye contact and continue to face the shark while making small, steady movements in the opposite direction. You must maintain eye contact as they are masters of stealth and known for their ambush attacks.
The moment you lose eye contact, start splashing, screaming, and kicking—basically doing everything I advised against—you significantly increase your chances of being attacked. Think of it like a staring contest, but with a shark that's twice your size and way less likely to blink. Sounds like a lose-lose situation to me!
If they get close enough to punch, act like Rocky Balboa and aim for the gills and eyes!
Countries with the most Great White Sharks: United States, South Africa, Japan, Australia, and Chile.
2. The Tiger Shark
The tiger shark can grow to lengths of 13 to 16 feet with an extensive food palette. Humans might not be the main course for a tiger shark, but your arm may still make a tempting snack. Stay vigilant and watch for these aggressive sharks in warm waters!
Beyond their need for food, these predators have very interesting camouflaging abilities called countershading that allow them to blend in appropriately to light or dark environments. Hope you’re wearing goggles!
Tiger sharks have committed over 140 attacks with roughly 40 casualties. The most recent tiger shark attack took place on June 9, 2023, in Hurghada, Egypt which unfortunately ended in the fatality of Vladamir Popov. It is important to take extreme caution when handling this species as they can be extremely aggressive.
Avoiding being attacked by a tiger shark is very similar to other sharks. Remain calm and swim away slowly. Another tactic that works is to go for their nose in a friendly and calm manner. Shark snouts are made up of very sensitive tissue and, when rubbed, often calm sharks down. Do your best to exit the water “when it is safe to do so”, whatever that means.
Countries with the most Tiger Sharks: Africa, China, India, Australia, and Indonesia.
3. The Bull Shark
Grab your lassos because these sharks are hard to tame. The bull shark is a warm-blooded predator that can be found in shallow waters in Central America, Australia, India, and Africa’s Atlantic Coast. Measuring in at 7 to 11 feet, these sharks are known for their unpredictable behavior and sharp movements. They are the bullies of the sea so hide your lunch money if you ever encounter one of these animals.
Bull sharks have committed over 120 attacks with almost 30 casualties which furthers my point of them being real bullies. A recent anomaly at Inlet Beach in Florida, United States on June 7, 2024, happened when two shark attacks happened within an hour and a half of each other in Walton County. The shark attacked 45-year-old Elisabeth Fowley’s left hand and suffered severe injuries to her midsection while 15-year-old Lulu Gribbin had her left hand and right leg amputated. Lulu’s Law was introduced as a result of this attack which deploys wireless warnings to beachgoers in an area when a shark is spotted. Florida is home to an extraordinary amount of shark attacks every year with New Smyrna Beach being coined the “shark bite capital of the world”. More recently on July 23, 2024, a beachgoer, Wyatt Bowman, on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, was bitten on the foot while wading in knee-deep water. This incident highlights the potential risks of shoreline attacks.
As you can imagine, avoiding an attack by a bull shark is hard to achieve. My best recommendation is to not run into one of these sharks, however, if this is a life-or death, listen here. First step, stay calm, obviously. Second step, stay vertical. If the shark sees you horizontal, they may be more inclined to attack. Third step, stare it down like the badass you are. Fourth step, assuming all else fails and you are being pursued, defend yourself by kicking, flailing, punching, and slapping the shark's sensitive areas: the eyes, gills, and snout. Embrace your inner karate kid.
Countries with the most Bull Sharks: Central America, South Africa, Australia, Mexico, and Brazil
4. The Whale Shark
Let’s take a break from the fear factor. I’m not here to scare you. The whale shark is the ocean's filter, literally. There has never been a single whale shark attack ever recorded, however, they can normally be seen off the coast of Ningaloo Beach in Ningaloo, Australia. These large fish–recorded as big as 59 feet–only eat plankton and small fish in order to maintain the ocean's beauty. Despite their intimidating size and shark-like appearance, these creatures are essentially nature's tireless custodians so throw them a few sand dollars if you happen to cruise by one.
Countries with the most Whale Sharks: Mexico, Philippines, Australia, Maldives, and Indonesia
5. The Hammerhead Shark
Okay, break's over. The hammerhead shark is a solitary night hunter ranging anywhere from one to 20 feet. Let’s call them the robbers of the sea. Their best work is conducted at night, however, they do not shy away from a good fight during the day if the opportunity arises. Recognizable by their hammer-shaped heads, a feature primarily evolved to enhance their vision, the hammerhead shark's ideal prey are smaller fishes but there have been cases of human attacks especially if you resemble anything that looks like a nail…
On June 6, 2024, off the coast of St. Petersburg, Florida, a hammerhead was seen circling beachgoers looking for a tussle. Although only around 40 shark attacks by hammerhead sharks have been reported with no casualties, it is important you still know how to avoid upsetting these crazy-looking guys.
So, let's talk about the course of action you should take if a hammerhead attempts to drive the nail. Sorry, I’m done. First off, always swim in groups if you can as they are much more likely to attack a solitary individual. Secondly, avoid going in the water at night. Thirdly, do not wear shiny jewelry in the water as they are attracted by the shimmer. Plus, nobody likes rusty jewelry. Lastly, if the hammerhead is coming in hot and you can’t deflect, give him your arm or leg and punch–or hammer–the shark's eyes, gills, and snout. Believe me, an arm and a leg are a lot less valuable than your brain so give it up.
Countries with the most Hammerhead Sharks: Costa Rica, Ecuador, Maldives, Honduras, and the Bahamas
Conclusion
These apex predators, with their low reproductive rates and cartilage skeletons, might just make Spielberg's choice of paper mache seem like a stroke of genius after all. So, although sharks cause fewer fatalities than lightning strikes annually, these safety tactics may still come in handy for all the unlucky ones out there.
