scubaseason
Vulnerable· population decreasing· assessed 2020

Whitetip Reef Shark

Triaenodon obesus

Sighting evidence at YO-257 Wreck, Oahu

Whitetip Reef Shark

Photo: Craig Fujii · CC BY-NC-ND

Whitetip reef sharks cruise the sandy bottom flanking the YO-257 and occasionally rest in the wreck's darker interior cavities during daylight hours. As apex predators, they regulate populations of reef fish and cephalopods, maintaining the ecological balance of the artificial reef community that has developed over three decades.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Whitetip Reef Shark is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Also seen at other sites