Southeast Asia is a dream destination for anyone who loves the colorful and vibrant underwater world. Many different species of sharks live in the waters of Thailand and can be encountered while swimming, diving or snorkeling. Many holidaymakers therefore ask themselves: What species of sharks are there in Thailand? How dangerous are the predatory fish if I want to go swimming or bathing? I had one of the most spectacular shark encounters of my life in Thailand - and have put together the most important information about the predatory fish in Thailand for you.

I had the most spectacular shark encounter of my life while snorkeling in Thailand. I was snorkeling on a remote island during a boat tour and, far away from other vacationers, I came across a gray reef shark.

The impressive animal came very close to me very close to the shore - and I was able to see it in all its glory. Although I have had many encounters with different people Shark species none of them were ever so close and intimate. I can therefore say from my own experience: Yes, there are sharks in Thailand. And I am also very sure that they are harmless and not dangerous for holidaymakers.

Video – Snorkeling with sharks off Koh Tao

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Southeast Asia is a paradise for sea lovers

Southeast Asia generally is a paradise for sea lovers who are thrilled by the colorful and diverse underwater world. This also includes the numerous shark species that live in Thai waters. Whether at Diving or snorkeling – in almost every holiday region you can experience the fascinating predatory fish up close. But which shark species are there in Thailand and how much respect should you show them?

Most predatory fish are peaceful and curious towards humans, but not aggressive. They are happy to be observed by divers and snorkelers as long as you give them enough space and don't disturb them. It is an indescribable feeling to experience these elegant animals in their element.

Video – Koh Phi Phi Shark Point

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Numerous shark species in Thailand

The sharks of Thailand are very diverse: There are only a few of the legendary and feared great white sharks in Thailand. If you encounter them, which is very rare, they are usually harmless and ignore people. Most sharks in Thai waters are smaller species that quickly hide when they notice a human. Nevertheless, you should always be careful and respectful and not get too close to the sharks.

From the friendly reef shark to the gigantic whale shark, there are many shark species to marvel at. If you don't miss the chance to visit these wonderful animals in their habitat, you will experience an incomparable adventure. Basically that is Wildlife in Thailand incredibly diverse - and the graceful predatory fish are definitely one of them.

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Brief Overview – Shark Species in Thailand

• Whitetip reef sharks are among the most common shark species in Thailand. They get their name from the white tips on their fins and are usually harmless and curious. Nevertheless, it is important to keep a respectful distance and not get too close to them.
• whale Sharks are the largest fish in the world and feed on plankton. They are very peaceful and enjoy being accompanied by divers and snorkelers. It is an incredible experience to get so close to these majestic animals.
• Blacktip reef sharks are rather shy and usually stay in shallow water. They have black tips on their fins and flee as soon as they notice people.
• Gray reef sharks are slightly larger and stronger than the other reef sharks and are gray in color. They are territorial and can become aggressive if they feel threatened. It is therefore advisable to always be careful and not to provoke them.
• Leopard sharks are another species of shark found in Thailand and are easily recognized by their striking pattern of black spots on their skin. They are very relaxed and calm and often lie on the seabed.
• Bamboo sharks are small, slender sharks that feed on crabs and worms. They are nocturnal and hide in caves and crevices during the day.
• Nurse sharks are large, powerful sharks that are brown or gray in color. They are very sluggish and hardly move. As long as you don't disturb them, they are harmless.

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My up close encounter with a Blacktip Reef Shark in Thailand

My personal experiences

On my second trip to Thailand I recently had a very special encounter with a blacktip reef shark while snorkeling. It has to be said that I was specifically looking for sharks while snorkeling. But honestly, I didn't expect to find one anymore. I had previously snorkeled at Shark Point on Koh Phi Phi and didn't see a single one, even at the location that is heavily frequented by smaller sharks Animal seen.

Fishing has greatly reduced shark populations

Intensive fishing and pollution have continued to deplete stocks in recent years. A huge fleet fishes night after night in the Andaman Sea - and so you will have to see many of the blacktip reef sharks in the restaurant windows instead of under water. What sounds macabre is a true tragedy when you visit the site.

But if you look, you will find - and that's how I came across a shark while snorkeling. I made one last attempt on my Thailand sailing vacation on the remote island of Koh Khai Nok. The paradisiacal, tiny piece of earth is located between Koh Phi Phi and Phuket. There are strong currents around the island, making for some potential shark spots. And so I paddled with my snorkeling equipment against the current into a remote bay on the island.

Coral bleaching has a strong grip on Thailand

The reefs on the island are not worth mentioning, much has already been destroyed by divers and anchors. Coral bleaching has also struck there and there is very little fish overall. I was about to turn around on my snorkeling trip when suddenly, out of nowhere, an adult blacktip reef shark swam into the picture at an angle from the right. A large, beautiful animal that, probably out of curiosity, stopped by to pay a visit to the intruder.

However, the predatory fish then disappeared relatively quickly into very shallow water. With a few powerful fin kicks I was able to follow and watch him for quite a while. I was very surprised at the shallow water the animal was in. In the end we were maybe still at 80 centimeters of water depth, in which the blacktip reef shark moved skillfully and then lost its track in the murky surf. Still an incredible experience.

A unique shark encounter in Thailand

After the encounter I yelled with joy, because I had never encountered a shark in Thailand before so close and, above all, so face to face without other divers. Most of the time you see them diving when you are with your dive group. Then the shy animals stay in the distance and you only see them from afar. During this tryst with the blacktip reef shark, I was actually able to observe the animal up close for a few minutes.

Certainly an unforgettable experience that also gives me hope for the existence of the animals. After all, I had been looking for a shark and finally managed to find it. Incidentally, on the same day we saw a group of manta rays from the sailing boat, which accompanied us for quite a while on the trip. That too was an incredible experience! Obviously there is still life in the Andaman Sea - this gives hope for many more unforgettable encounters in the future.

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Shark species in Thailand – Which predatory fish are particularly common?

Sharks can move freely in the oceans. And therefore, theoretically, almost any shark species can appear anywhere in the world. To date, 14 different species have been discovered in Thailand. However, Wanderlust author Sascha Tegtmeyer has so far only been able to discover two species in Thailand: gray reef sharks and whitetip reef sharks.

Unfortunately, the search for the whale shark, which is popular with divers, has so far been in vain. Sharks live everywhere in the sea. Some live in shallow water and others live well hidden in the deep sea. However, they all have one thing in common: they don't have much to do with people and the risk of a shark attacking a swimmer or snorkeler in Thailand is extremely low.

On the contrary: Especially as a diver, you should be happy about every encounter with sharks, because the animals are seriously threatened by overfishing and environmental influences. Spotting sharks in Thailand is therefore a reason for joy rather than fear.

1. Whitetip Reef Sharks – if you are lucky you can see them quite often in Thailand

The whitetip reef shark gets its name from the distinctive white dot on its fin. The animals often lie around on sandy floors or hide in caves. The “White Tip” lives at depths of up to 40 meters and hunts smaller marine animals such as fish and crabs.

Even though these sharks have a pretty evil eye, they don't harm humans. As soon as you get close to them as a diver, they usually bolt or keep a safe distance. So no need to worry.

2. Whale Sharks - Whoever discovers the gentle giants has the jackpot

The whale shark is one of the largest fish in the ocean. The huge, spotted animal with the wide mouth is completely harmless to humans and is a real eye-catcher for divers. With a size of up to 16 meters, it is a huge colossus that you can snorkel or dive with in the water.

You will feel dwarfed by the monstrous animal, which is uniquely beautiful and glides majestically through the oceans. Unfortunately, the whale shark is also threatened. Like many other shark sharks, it is hunted for its fins. The whale shark is particularly often spotted at Sail Rock between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.

3. Leopard Sharks - Common in Thailand

Also known as zebra sharks, these harmless sharks are very common in Thailand and can be seen in many places in the Andaman Sea. The name was given to the pretty animal because of the black spots on its back. The shark, up to two and a half meters long, hunts smaller fish.

4. Blacktip Reef Sharks - Large, free-swimming predatory fish

Unlike their whitetip counterparts, blacktip reef sharks never lie around on the sand. They belong to the pelagic species of sharks that always need to move. The sharks, which are up to two meters long, feed on all kinds of marine animals - especially fish and other sharks. The “Black Tips” sometimes appear in groups and are quite curious. This way you can observe them well.

5. Nurse sharks

An encounter with a nurse shark is an impressive experience. These sharks are among the largest and oldest shark species in the world. They can grow up to 3,5 meters long and have a characteristic hump on their backs. Their teeth are sharp and numerous, but they only use them to tear, not chew, their prey. Nurse sharks are not dangerous predators, but rather peaceful filter feeders.

They feed mainly on small marine animals such as crabs, mussels, squid and fish, which they suck out of the sand with their powerful jaws. During the day they like to rest in caves or under rocks, where they protect themselves from enemies. At night they become more active and swim around looking for food.

6. Gray reef sharks

If you are interested in sharks, don't miss the gray reef sharks in Thailand. These fascinating animals are a medium-sized species that closely resemble the classic image of a shark. They are about 1,8 meters long, have a wide snout and a streamlined body shape reminiscent of a torpedo. Their color is gray with a white belly and dark spots on the fins.

The gray reef shark is not to be confused with the sixgill shark, which is also called a gray shark but is much larger and lives in deeper waters. The gray reef shark, on the other hand, prefers warm and clear reefs at depths of 0 to 300 meters. It is an active and curious hunter, eating primarily fish, squid and crustaceans. It is also very social and often forms groups with other sharks of its kind.

7. Bull sharks

If there's one shark in Thailand that really needs to be treated with caution, it's the giant bull shark. It has been seen several times in the Gulf of Thailand between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan (travel report) spotted near Sail Rock and is not afraid of people. It grows up to 3,3 meters long and weighs 230 kilos. Next to the tiger shark and the great white shark, this shark is the most likely to pose a threat to humans.

But even this animal doesn't just bite people on purpose. Nevertheless, his curiosity can lead to a test bite, for example. Such incidents are extremely rare. The likelihood that you will encounter a bull shark while swimming in shallow water in Thailand is negligible. The bull shark - or bull shark - looks very similar to the great white shark.

Danger from sharks in Thailand?

The danger from sharks in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea is negligible. In many years there have only been a handful of incidents between humans and sharks. The last documented shark attack in Thailand dates back to an incident in September 2015. At that time, a person was injured by a bull shark on the beach in Phuket.

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Sharks in Thailand and all of Asia are extremely vulnerable

My conclusion

Sharks are much more at risk from humans than humans are. While there are only a handful of shark deaths each year, millions of sharks worldwide are killed for their fins. The fins of the animals are sold in markets in Asia and are used as a delicacy in China in the form of shark fin soup.

A pound of fin costs several hundred dollars in wholesale markets in Hong Kong, for example. Shark fin soup is served in China on special occasions such as weddings. Environmental protection organizations such as Sea Shepherd and Sharkproject are fighting worldwide to protect endangered marine animals.

Because if sharks die out, the entire ocean ecosystem collapses. In Thailand, too, you can often see small sharks intended for consumption alongside other fish in restaurant displays. Shark populations in Southeast Asia continue to decline and shark sightings in Thailand are becoming increasingly rare.

Have you been to Thailand for diving or snorkeling? Did you possibly see a shark there? Share your experiences in the comments!