Scalloped Hammerhead Shark

Photo: Kris Mikael Krister · CC BY

Scalloped hammerheads pass Motu Nui as part of open-ocean pelagic circuits through the southeastern Pacific, occasionally aggregating around the pinnacle in the early morning. Easter Island's extreme isolation means these are truly wild sharks with minimal human interaction, and sightings of 3 to 8 individuals are reported regularly by operators during the calmer summer months. The pinnacle's upwelling creates a local concentration of prey that makes it a reliable checkpoint on their migratory routes.