Whitetip Reef Shark

Photo: Craig Fujii · CC BY-NC-ND

Whitetip reef sharks rest in loose groups inside the larger cargo holds of the Hakkai Maru, taking advantage of the darkness and reduced current inside the hull to conserve energy between nocturnal hunts. They are among the calmest shark species at wreck sites, rarely disturbed by diver presence as long as approaches are slow and non-confrontational. At dusk, multiple individuals can be observed leaving the wreck simultaneously in a ritual exit that signals the transition to active hunting across the surrounding harbour floor.