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Is it Safe to Dive With Lemon Sharks?

The lemon shark gets its name from its yellow-brown skin and light yellow underside. Lemon sharks are most often found in subtropical shallow water of 300 feet or less, especially around coral reefs, river mouths, bays or sounds. The shark can be found in coastal waters in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. This species does pose some danger to humans, although it is much less dangerous than other species of sharks, thus making the lemon shark a popular shark for humans to dive with.

Identification
- The lemon shark, also called brevirostris, is a large species of shark with lengths reaching up to 11.5 feet. The lengthy and stocky shark features two dorsal fins that are most often the same size. Other characteristics that are easily identifiable include sharp teeth and a round nose that is smaller than the width of the mouth. Lemon sharks most often feed on bony fish, crustaceans, catfish, mullet, porcupine fish, cowfish, stingrays, crabs, crayfish, sea birds and even smaller sharks. Humans are not included in this shark's typical diet.
Location
- Lemon sharks can be found in a variety of bodies of water, but are most always found swimming in shallow coastal and inshore waters of 300 feet or less, which is why they are often spotted in coral reefs, river mouths and bays as well as around docks and fishing piers at night. Because this species of shark lurks around shallow waters, it makes the lemon shark a target for fisherman. Their shallow water tendencies also allow for plenty of divers to get a glimpse. Divers most often find lemon sharks swimming in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean near New Jersey and in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean along Africa. In addition, divers can spot lemon sharks in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and in the North Pacific from Baja, California, to Ecuador.
Benefits
- The benefit to open water shark diving with lemon sharks as compared to other varieties of the species, is that lemon sharks are shy, tend to ignore humans and swim away, especially when the sharks are not provoked. Lemon sharks have an extremely low attack rate with only 10 unprovoked attacks reported and no fatalities, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. All of these attacks occurred near Florida and the Caribbean Sea. Thus, the threat when diving with lemon sharks is minimal.
Warnings
- Lemon sharks are often found swimming in large groups, with up to 30 sharks in one area at times. When open water shark diving, be sure you are trained by a professional and/or accompanied by a professional guide. Likewise, educate yourself on the appearance of a lemon shark so that you are not confusing a lemon shark with another species of shark that may prey on humans. When open water diving, always dive with caution and do not provoke any type of shark.

Animals & Science