Oceanic whitetip shark

Photo: Lesley Clements · © all rights reserved

Oceanic whitetips are the defining encounter at Elphinstone's north plateau, appearing most reliably from October through January when cooler upwelling brings baitfish to the reef edge. They are one of the ocean's most inquisitive large sharks, circling divers persistently and approaching closely — requiring calm body language and a safety sausage for ascents. Once among the most abundant large sharks on Earth, they are now critically endangered following catastrophic declines driven by the shark fin trade.