Great barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
Sighting evidence at Shark Reef, Long Island
Photo: Christian Amador Da Silva · © all rights reserved
Great barracuda are permanent residents of the Shark Reef plateau, their torpedo shapes and silver flanks hovering motionless in the current while the shark action unfolds below. They are supreme ambush predators that sprint at 40 kilometres per hour to take prey and are attracted by the commotion of feeding events. Despite their fierce reputation barracuda are almost never involved in unprovoked attacks on divers. Their presence at the site alongside multiple shark species makes Shark Reef one of the most predator-rich dives in the Atlantic.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Great barracuda is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.