Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Wed, Aug 25th, 2010 | Marine Life, Places, Adventures 23 Comments

It was an epic day today, one of the highlights of which was my first time in the water with oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus):

Carcharhinus longimanus, one of the most beautiful sharks around

Two of them were trailing behind a large pod of pilot whales, which we saw playing with two humpback whales.

As if that weren’t enough, a striped marlin saw fit to swim by for a visit.

Oceanic whitetip shark with striped marlin in the background

Oh yeah…I also ID-ed another calf, bringing the total to eight ID-ed baby whales this season.

I’m pooped.

Tags: Carcharhinus longimanus, cetacean, humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, Oceanic Whitetip Shark, Striped Marlin, Tetrapturus audax, tonga

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Ron Silver

Tony,

Interesting that you encountered the oceanic whitetips in association with pilot whales. These sharks are known to associate with the whales in order to feed on scraps of prey “overlooked” by the whales. This is an impressive shark with a well-deserved reputation as an open water hunter.
Ron Silver

Tony,

Interesting that you encountered the oceanic whitetips in association with pilot whales. These sharks are known to associate with the whales in order to feed on scraps of prey “overlooked” by the whales. This is an impressive shark with a well-deserved reputation as an open water hunter.
Yao

wooo….nice

I only saw oceanic whitetip in red sea before, don’t know it’s also in Tonga!!!
Yao

wooo….nice

I only saw oceanic whitetip in red sea before, don’t know it’s also in Tonga!!!
http://www.glen.co.nz Glen Webber (NZ Wildlife Photo

Well worth the effort Tony. Stunning shark photos!
http://www.glen.co.nz Glen Webber (NZ Wildlife Photography)

Well worth the effort Tony. Stunning shark photos!
http://www.tonywublog.com Tony

Ron: Our theory is that they were tracking the pilots to feed on scraps. We’ve seen pilots here tearing apart fish, so it seems like a reasonable assumption.

Yao: Great meeting you tonight. Hope you have more success during your stay!

Glen: Thanks! They’re really beautiful animals
http://www.tonywublog.com Tony

Ron: Our theory is that they were tracking the pilots to feed on scraps. We’ve seen pilots here tearing apart fish, so it seems like a reasonable assumption.

Yao: Great meeting you tonight. Hope you have more success during your stay!

Glen: Thanks! They’re really beautiful animals
Ron Silver

Yao:

Oceanic whitetip sharks are found world-wide in tropical and warm temperate waters, so you can have the opportunity to see them on future dive trips.
Ron Silver

Yao:

Oceanic whitetip sharks are found world-wide in tropical and warm temperate waters, so you can have the opportunity to see them on future dive trips.
Gina Sanfilippo

What a beautiful animal. Clearly we have to go back to Tonga and see everything that we missed this year!
Gina Sanfilippo

What a beautiful animal. Clearly we have to go back to Tonga and see everything that we missed this year!
http://www.tonywublog.com tony

Hi Gina,

And also…the spiders are waiting for you
http://www.tonywublog.com tony

Hi Gina,

And also…the spiders are waiting for you
Debra

Saw your oceanic sharks’ pictures on tv today in hong kong, nice pictures in nice ocean haha
Debra

Saw your oceanic sharks’ pictures on tv today in hong kong, nice pictures in nice ocean haha
http://echeng.com Eric Cheng

Oceanics? I don’t believe you — you are like oceanic white-tip shark repellent!!
http://echeng.com Eric Cheng

Oceanics? I don’t believe you — you are like oceanic white-tip shark repellent!!
http://www.tonywublog.com Tony

Must’ve been Alex!
http://www.tonywublog.com Tony

Must’ve been Alex!
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