To end our low season series about species we monitor in our Ocean Action Project research and as a Shark Guardian centre, we're going to look at sharks. We have already talked specifically about whale sharks & leopard sharks which are particularly vulnerable. However as part of our research we record sightings of all shark types and last season was comparatively sensational for seeing sharks in Surin National Park.

Based on Blue Guru's Ocean Action Project surveys conducted on every dive & snorkel session, sharks sightings increased to 22% last season, compared to 12% the year before. This is a significiant increase. Of all the sharks seen, black tips were the most common by far but whale sharks were seen far more often than in the past 5 years:

- 67% black tip reef sharks

- 21% whale sharks

- 7% white tip reef sharks

- 5% grey reef sharks

It is particularly encouraging that many of the black tips & whale sharks were juveniles. We've found juvenile black tip nursery grounds around Surin Islands & Koh Phra Thong. 

Comparing Blue Guru's local research to the national eShark project led by Shark Guardian, there are some similarities & some differences. Across the whole of Thailand sharks were seen on 12.8% of dives, which is in line with our previous season's findings. Nationally black tips were also the most frequently seen shark. However, of all the sharks sightings reported across Thailand, a greater % were leopard sharks & a lower % were whale sharks compared to our local results:

- 64% black tip reef sharks

- 16% leopard sharks

- 8% white tip reef sharks

- 6% whale sharks

- 6% others

Shark Guardian will also be conducting their eShark project throughout next season and we encourage all divers in Thailand to submit their sightings to: www.sharkguardian.org/thailand-eshark-project

Fingers crossed Blue Guru will have another sensational season for seeing reef sharks at Surin Islands & whale sharks at Richelieu Rock!