Oceanic whitetip shark

Photo: Lesley Clements · © all rights reserved

Habili Ali is one of the most consistent oceanic whitetip sites remaining in the Red Sea, with individuals circling the pinnacle throughout the year and showing clear site fidelity confirmed by photo-ID studies. These open-ocean apex predators historically followed whale schools and tuna across ocean basins but now congregate at isolated seamounts and pinnacles where upwelling concentrates prey. Their direct, persistent approach to divers demands calm group management; excited or panicked movements trigger accelerated investigation from the whole group.