Are There Sharks In Key West?
Certainly! Key West with its clear waters and diverse marine life is the perfect place to see sharks in their natural habitat. Whether you’re a shark enthusiast or just curious about these magnificent creatures Key West has plenty of places to see them.
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Regardless of whether you’re an experienced diver or prefer to observe them from the safety of a boat, Key West has options for everyone.
Are Sharks Actually Dangerous?
Sharks are often feared and misunderstood as bloodthirsty monsters with an insatiable taste for humans. However, the chances of a fatal shark attack are one in 264 million, and the odds of being injured by a shark are one in 5 million. To put this in perspective, the chances of being struck by lightning are merely one in a million.
This doesn’t mean that there aren’t aggressive shark species. It just means that all sharks can’t be lumped into the same sensationalized category as Jaws.
Shark Species In Key West
When it comes to Key West’s marine life, you can’t ignore the apex predators that rule the waters – sharks. In Key West you’ll find many shark species that call these turquoise waters home. From the Reef Shark to the Hammerhead, Key West has all sorts of shark species to get your imagination going.
Whether you’re a shark enthusiast or just curious about these kings of the sea, here’s an introduction to the shark species that live in Key West. Let’s get in the water and learn about Key West’s sharks. Dive in!
Reef Sharks
As their name suggests, reef sharks inhabit the Florida Keys’ shallow coral reef waters. At night, the shark primarily feeds alone, and during the day it hunts in packs of up to 100. Their astonishing sense of smell allows them to detect blood in the water up to a quarter mile away.
These Key West sharks have even developed a method of herding prey against the coral reefs before killing them. Reef sharks are usually afraid of divers. However, like other sharks, they may become aggressive if they feel cornered or if they need to defend their food.
Nurse Sharks
The nocturnal nurse shark is a common shark in Key West. This shark species inhabits the warm, shallow waters near coral reefs and sandbars. They’re mellow, seven to nine-foot bottom-feeders that hunt alone at night.
During the day, the docile nurse shark rests with other nurse sharks in pileups of up to 40 sharks. Typically non-threatening to humans, the nurse shark might bite in self-defense. These large fish may have gotten their name because they make a suckling sound like a nursing baby when they eat.
Tiger Sharks
Tiger sharks are voracious nighttime predators, devouring almost anything they can get their jaws on. These notorious sharks eat a variety of marine life but have also been found with stomachs full of burlap sacks, license plates, tin cans, chicken coops, tires, boots, and even an unexploded bomb!
Named for their distinctive vertical stripes, these gargantuan gluttons can grow up to 16 feet long and can max out at 2,000 pounds. They have a unique disguise called countershading. If prey looks up at them, the shark’s white underbelly camouflages it against the sunlight.
Bull Sharks
Bull sharks are one of the world’s most ferocious, unpredictable shark species. A large, powerful fish, the bull shark can uniquely tolerate both salt water and fresh water. Although a bull shark can be cautious around divers, it may abruptly become aggressive if it feels threatened.
This dangerous shark can grow up to 14 feet and weigh over 1,500 pounds. It can migrate remarkably long distances, often covering hundreds of miles. Bull shark attacks in 1916 allegedly inspired Peter Benchley’s book, Jaws, although the author denies this.
Hammerhead Sharks
The hammerhead shark is a unique, iconic shark. Although it looks like they have poor vision because of the placement of their eyes, these sharks can actually see quite well in the Florida waters. The hammerhead has 360-degree vision, which allows them to see below and above simultaneously.
This shark species also depends on electroreceptors that detect prey’s subtle movements and vibrations. During the day, they hunt in packs of up to 100. At night, they prowl Key West waters alone.
Mako Sharks
Known as the fastest of all sharks, the mako shark can swim up to 31 mph, with explosive bursts up to 60 mph. These cheetahs of the sea are extremely dangerous to humans because of their volcanic attack speed and their ability to jump into fishing boats.
Their size is also formidable: up to 12 feet long and 1,200 pounds. In the Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway wrote about these quick swimmers: “He was a very big mako shark built to swim as fast as the fastest fish in the sea, and everything about him was beautiful except his jaws.”
Blacktip Shark
The blacktip shark, known for its distinctive black-edged nose and fins, is another fast fish. Not only can they hit speeds up to 30 mph, but they can hurtle out of the water and spin three or four times before landing with a forceful splash.
A smaller shark about 5 feet long, blacktips have an exceptional sense of smell and can notice one part of a fish’s flesh in 10 billion parts of ocean water. Blacktip sharks are usually skittish and forage in shallow waters of the coastal Atlantic Ocean.
Lemon Sharks
This fish species is named for the yellow-brown color of their skin. Unlike most other shark species, lemon sharks form social groups for protection and hunting. This is the most common shark in Key West.
The area provides them with the shallow flats, reefs, and mangroves that they call home. Remora fish often attach themselves to these sharks. They clean irritating parasites from the shark’s body – even braving its mouth to clean its teeth!
Where To Spot Sharks In Key West?
Now that you’re familiar with the most common shark species in the waters surrounding Key West, it’s time to discover the prime spots to witness them in action.
Come along with us as we go deep into the shark-infested waters of the Florida Keys and check out the top 7 places to see them:
1) Come With Us On An Amazing Sandbar Hopping Tour
Certain shark species, such as the blacktip shark, lemon shark, and nurse shark are commonly found near sandbars. These predators prefer sandbars because they teem with crustaceans and small fish. The shallow water of sandbars is also used as a nursery for young sharks. Sharks residing near sandbars tend to be most active during dawn and dusk, so those are the best times to see them. Calm, clear waters and high tides also help improve visibility.
When you reserve one of our private sandbar tours, your chances of seeing sharks up close are significantly higher. Join us on a sandbar hopping tour where our expert guides will provide insights about the local marine life, all while you enjoy the breathtaking scenery.
Led by our expert guides, you’ll safely enjoy an exciting, informative peek into the amazing world of sharks and other marine life. Ready to enjoy spectacular views of these powerful creatures? Then book your unforgettable sandbar hopping tour with us today!
2) Theatre Of The Sea
Located in Islamorada, Theatre of the Sea has seven nurse sharks and offers enjoyable interactions with them. You can feed, hold, and pet these gentle creatures while sitting on an in-water bench. If you want to experience them in their natural element, you can snorkel with them in a salt-water lagoon.
There is a mandatory 10-minute orientation, and the encounter is 20 minutes long. You can also interact with dolphins, sea lions, sea turtles, and stingrays.
3) Bahia Honda State Park
Bahia Honda houses dazzling corals and over 150 intriguing species of fish, including yellowtail, parrotfish, and angelfish. Additionally, it’s known for exceptional birding opportunities, so bring your binoculars.
The park’s clear, depthless waters are ideal for beginning divers and snorkelers, but probably not challenging enough for advanced divers. You may spot the easygoing nurse shark, as well as the formidable bull shark. If you see one, keep a safe distance and quickly return to the shore.
4) Sand Key Lighthouse Reef
Just six nautical miles southwest of Key West lies the Sand Key Lighthouse Reef. Named for its distinctive red iron lighthouse, Sand Key is a small island surrounded by a gorgeous, robust coral reef.
Since Sand Key lies within a zone that legally prohibits any type of fishing, it’s bursting with tropical fish, turtles, dolphins, and even a hammerhead shark or two. This, and visibility that often exceeds 70 feet, makes it a snorkeler’s or scuba diver’s utopia.
5) Cottrell Key
Cottrell Key is located nine miles north of Key West and is only accessible by boat. The island’s shallow water offers snorkelers magical encounters with new-growth coral, sponges, and sea fans, as well as parrotfish, tarpon, reef sharks, hammerheads, and stingrays.
Cottrell Key is part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which helps protect and preserve its wildlife.
6) Key West Aquarium
Located in the famed Mallory Square, Key West Aquarium offers a fun, educational experience for all ages. The aquarium houses sharks that you can safely enjoy face-to-face without losing a limb. It also features assorted sea creatures including moray eels, barracuda, smaller fish species, and sea turtles.
There’s even a “touch tank” where you can gently handle sea stars, conchs, sea cucumbers, and more. You can also join a guided tour that includes shark and turtle feedings.
7) Looe Key
Looe Key (pronounced “Loo Key”) is situated within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. A haven for divers and snorkelers, it boasts crystal-clear, calm waters and abundant marine life, including tropical fish, snapper, grouper, turtles, and rays.
The area is also visited by dolphins and a lemon shark or two. In addition, wreck-diving enthusiasts will want to explore the cargo holds, engine room, and bridge of the sunken Adolphus Busch. Looe Key’s reef can only be accessed by charter boats.
Have A Pulse-Pounding Shark Encounter!
You won’t need a bigger boat when we embark on a journey to see sharks in Key West. Key West Sandbar Tours will provide you with the unparalleled thrills of seeing and swimming with sharks. And you can rest assured that a trip with our seasoned guides will be both fun and safe.
Whether you prefer to snorkel and explore the vibrant underwater world or simply observe from the comfort of our vessel, you’ll have the chance to experience the mesmerizing beauty of sharks in their natural habitat.
Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Book our sandbar-hopping adventure on one of our private boats today!
