Basking Shark

Cetorhinus maximus

Next to the whale shark the basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus, is the second largest fish and can be found in the warmer waters of Florida and across the worlds temperate oceans.

BASKING SHARK

Order - Lamniformes
Family - Cetorhinidae
Genus - Cetorhinus
Species - maximus

This shark is easily recognizable out of all of the sharks. It's huge! With a conical snout and enormous mouth this is one of the least aggressive sharks you will encounter.

The coloration of these huge sharks varies from grayish brown or grey to almost black on top and lighter or white underbelly.

Growth

The average size of an adult is around 20-25ft in length and with an average weight of 15000lbs these are enormous creatures who can live 20yrs and beyond.

Habitat

This shark is a pelagic shark which enjoys reasonably warm waters and is therefore often seen off the Florida coast.

Many photos have been taken of this shark close into shore as this shark will follow the rich concentrations of plankton which is its staple diet and can often be seen on the surface gently swimming through the microscopic marine life.

Behavior

The most awesome sight you will see is that of one of these huge sharks swimming gently through the water with its mouth wide open, feeding.

Often seen in schools they will come inshore and follow the food trail giving you plenty of opportunities to observe their placid behavior.

Basking Shark Feeding

Their diet is zooplankton which they pass through their enormous mouths and filter out with the aid of their gills. Constantly on the move they eat huge quantities of the plankton as they swim slowly along the coast of Florida and explore the temperate oceans of the world.

Shark Videos

Scuba diving videos often capture the beauty of sharks as they swim through the water in their unique style.

Here is the opportunity to watch one of these sharks -Cetorhinus maximus- swimming close to scuba divers who managed to video the event of the coast of England. Similar video footage has been shot off Florida and Maine's coastal waters but this is one of my favorites because of the detail. (Press the button second right on the bottom of the video player to see it in full screen)...

- Cetorhinus maximus
- Carcharias limbatus
- Prionace glauca
- Sphyrna tiburo
- Carcharhinus leucas
- Sphyrna mokarran
- Negaprion brevirostris
- Ginglymostoma cirratum
- Carcharhinus brevipinna
- Alopias vulpinus
- Galeocerdo cuvier

Terence's Tip

This huge docile shark, the second largest 'fish' in the world is amazing to watch whether you're in or out of the water.

Swimming in schools they present an impressive sight.

If you are fortunate to encounter these sharks whilst diving you will be awed at the sheer size of these elder statesmen of the sea.