Galapagos Shark

Photo: R Vasconcellos · CC BY

Galapagos sharks are the most commonly encountered reef shark at Motu Nui and throughout Easter Island's dive sites, circling the pinnacle on most dives with characteristic unhurried confidence. They are apex predators of the local reef ecosystem and their abundance is a strong indicator of ecosystem health given the island's protected status. Their relatively large size — typically 1.5 to 2.5 m — combined with the extraordinary water clarity makes for deeply impressive encounters.