Sharks
Silky Shark
Carcharhinus falciformis · Cartilaginous fish — family Carcharhinidae
Silkies are the open ocean's welcoming committee. Hang beneath a liveaboard at Daedalus or in Cuba's Jardines de la Reina and they appear from nowhere — slender, bronze-backed sharks with long tail lobes, carving smooth circles a fin's length away. Few species close distance so readily, and few wear their curiosity so plainly; a safety stop can turn into twenty minutes of orbiting escort. They are also among the most heavily fished sharks on Earth, hauled up in vast numbers on tuna longlines and purse seines, which makes the confident crowds at protected seamounts feel like dispatches from an older ocean.
Where and when to see one
"Resident" means most dives at that destination encounter them; "seasonal" means reliably present in the listed months; anything else is a bonus, not a plan.
| Destination | Reliability | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cocos IslandCosta Rica | Resident — seen on most dives | Year-round | |
| Socorro & the RevillagigedosMexico | Resident — seen on most dives | Year-round | |
| Jardines de la ReinaCuba | Resident — seen on most dives | Year-round | |
| MalpeloColombia | Resident — seen on most dives | Year-round | |
| Brothers, Daedalus & St John'sEgypt | Seasonal — reliable in season | May–Oct |
Best month, at a glance
Understanding them
Habitat: Warm open ocean over deep water; gathers around seamounts, offshore reefs, drifting objects, and anchored boats
Range: Circumtropical — one of the most abundant large sharks of the world's warm offshore waters, from the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific to the Red Sea and central Pacific
Behavior: Fast, sleek, and inquisitive, named for the fine, smooth texture of its skin. Silkies materialize around boats and safety stops in open water, circling divers closely and persistently, especially toward dusk. Around baitballs they switch to quick, slashing runs.
Diet: Schooling fish such as tuna and mackerel, plus squid; often follows baitballs and tuna schools
Size: typically around 2.2 m; documented up to 3.3 m (total length).
How to behave around one
Keep the group compact during drifting safety stops, avoid low-light surface swims where silkies are working bait, and never spearfish from a liveaboard mooring they patrol.
Conservation
Vulnerable and declining — silkies are the most common shark in the global fin trade and dominate tuna-fishery bycatch. CITES Appendix II listing now regulates international trade.
Charted sites known for them
Watch
From the official channels
Best Places to Dive with Whale Sharks
Outrageously Tiny Fish
Sink or Swim? with Monét X Change | Monterey Bay Aquarium
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