The ocean contains several mysterious creatures, among which sharks are the most mysterious ones and sharks who you think attack humans. Films and media depict sharks as deadly human predators, yet their actual behaviour remains complex and interesting.

Why Do Sharks Attack Humans?

Sharks don’t hunt humans as food. The majority of such incidents stem from mistaken identity. Such rare events occur because of the following reasons:

  • The poor visibility in the water causes swimmers, divers and surfers to resemble seals, thus attracting shark attacks.
  • A shark will bump or bite when it feels threatened or cornered.
  • Curiosity: Sharks use their mouths to explore, and some bites are investigatory rather than predatory.
  • Spearfishing and splashing activities in the water unintentionally bring sharks to the area.
  • Sharks generally bite once before they understand that humans are not their usual food source and then leave the area.
Beach closed to prevent shark attacks

Why Do Sharks Attack Humans?

Sharks don’t hunt humans as food. The majority of such incidents stem from mistaken identity. These rare events occur for the following reasons:

  • The poor visibility in the water causes swimmers, divers and surfers to resemble seals, thus attracting shark attacks.
  • A shark will bump or bite when it feels threatened or cornered.
  • Curiosity: Sharks use their mouths to explore, and some bites are investigatory rather than predatory.
  • Spearfishing and splashing activities in the water unintentionally bring sharks to the area.
  • Sharks generally bite once before they understand that humans are not their usual food source and then leave the area.
Great white sharks do not commonly attack humans

What Sharks Attack Humans the Most?

Of the 500 shark species existing in the ocean, only a few cause the majority of unprovoked attacks. These three are the most well-documented:

1. Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)

  • The species gains its fame from attacking surfers and swimming alongside humans.
  • The species inhabits coastal waters of South Africa, particularly in Mossel Bay and Gansbaai areas.
  • The species demonstrates both powerful behaviour and curiosity while frequently mistaking humans for seals.

2. Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)

  • The sea-dwelling creature is known for its habit of consuming all food types.
  • The species produces numerous deaths in the tropical ocean waters.
  • Strong jaws and aggressive feeding behavior

3. Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas)

  • The species can adapt to both freshwater and saltwater environments because it inhabits rivers and estuaries together with coastal areas.
  • The species shows strong territorial behavior and chooses to stay in areas where human activities occur.
great white shark attack seal, not human

Which Shark Is Most Likely to Eat You?

Let’s dispel the misconceptions first: No shark species routinely eats humans. The great white shark stands out as the primary shark species involved in deadly attacks due to its massive size and regular interactions with human beachgoers.

peaceful shark

What shark has killed the most humans?

The great white shark holds the first position in historical attack records according to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) at the Florida Museum of Natural History, while tiger sharks and bull sharks follow.

Where Do Most Shark Attacks on Humans Occur?

Shark attacks remain infrequent but mostly occur in specific coastal areas where human and shark interactions are most frequent:

  • Florida, USA – Highest number of bites, mostly non-fatal
  • Australia – Fatal attacks often involve surfers and divers
  • South Africa – The locations of great white sharks exist in Mossel Bay, Durban, and Gansbaai.

When properly guided, cage diving allows for safe observation of South Africa’s large shark population.

Which Shark Doesn’t Attack Humans?

Many sharks are completely harmless to humans. Here are a few examples:

  • Whale Shark – The largest fish in the ocean, but filter-feeds on plankton
  • Basking Shark – Another gentle giant, with a massive mouth but no interest in humans
  • Leopard Shark – Small, slow-moving, and common along sandy coasts
  • Copper Shark (Bronze Whaler) – Though large, rarely aggressive; often seen on shark cage dives

These sharks serve as evidence that being large does not necessarily mean being dangerous.

  • Fewer than 100 unprovoked shark bites occur worldwide each year
  • It is more probable to be hit by lightning than to be bitten by a shark
  • Sharks do not have the intention of hunting humans since their bites result in immediate releases
  • The key factor for shark survival depends on conservation instead of fear.

Sharks Are Ocean Predators, But Not Villains

As apex predators sharks maintain their position at the top of the ocean’s food web. The ocean receives ecosystem balance and health through sharks because they consume weak and sick animals.

Overcome the Fear, Experience the Facts

The most effective way to learn about these marine predators is to see them directly through a risk-free encounter. Join us for a guided shark diving experience in Gansbaai or Mossel Bay where you can face your fears while discovering the real nature of these remarkable creatures.