Oceanic Whitetip Sharks

Oceanic whitetips are deep-water predators that come close to coastal reefs only at specific seamounts. They were once among the most abundant pelagic sharks on Earth — and have crashed 95–99% over the last century to bycatch and finning. IUCN now lists them Critically Endangered.

Red Sea liveaboards (Daedalus Reef, Elphinstone, Brothers Islands) are the world's only reliable encounter — peak Oct–Nov. They cruise into the blue water around the boat, sometimes inspecting divers at the safety stop, and stay for entire surface intervals. The white-tipped fins are unmistakable.

They demand respect — historically responsible for more open-ocean shark incidents than any other species (in shipwreck and air-crash survivor accounts) — but recreational dive encounters at established sites are calm, controlled, and unforgettable.