Sharks In The Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands is a place that draws visitors from around the world, and many of them want to know about what sharks they might encounter while fishing, snorkeling, diving and swimming in its shimmering blue waters. In this article we will discuss the types of sharks that can be seen in the VI (USVI and BVI), what shark attacks have occurred, and whether it is safe to swim in these Caribbean waters.
This article highlights six types of sharks commonly seen in the Virgin Islands by divers, and details where each species can be encountered:
Reef shark image credit: Linds & Max Photography
Caribbean Reef Sharks – Frequent the reefs around St. Thomas and St. John, often hunting in packs. (bite stats for the reef sharks worldwide: 24 people bitten, 0 fatalities)
Lemon Sharks – Found in shallow flats and mangroves as juveniles, later moving to both shallow and deep reefs around the islands. (bite stats for lemon sharks worldwide: 10 people bitten, 0 fatalities)
Great Hammerheads – Seen near reef locations, these iconic sharks specialize in hunting stingrays and large fish.(bite stats for great hammerhead sharks worldwide: 34 people bitten, 0 fatalities)
Blacktip Sharks – Spotted in the clear coastal waters around St. Thomas and St. John, showcasing their speed and agility.(bite stats for blacktip sharks worldwide: 11 people bitten, 0 fatalities)
Nurse Sharks – Reside among the reefs of the Virgin Islands, thriving in coral habitats.(bite stats for nurse sharks worldwide: 51 people bitten, 0 fatalities)
Tiger Sharks – Patrol shallow reefs, remote reef areas, and steep drop-offs, hunting across various habitats around the Virgin Islands. (bite stats for tiger sharks worldwide: 131 people bitten, 34 fatalities)
St. John USVI Sharks
St. John waters host a variety of shark species, typically non-aggressive and shy. Here are the three common types of sharks that been observed around St. John, based on posts in this forum:
Nurse Sharks: Commonly seen in places like Honeymoon, Maho, Francis, Jumbie, and Hurricane Hole. These sharks are generally harmless and often found resting on the seafloor.
Blacktip Reef Sharks: Occasionally spotted in the mangroves on the east end of St. John. These are also not aggressive toward humans but can be curious.
Lemon Sharks: Rare but notable sightings, including a baby lemon shark in the Maho Bay area.
Are There Tiger Sharks, Bull Sharks, or Great White Sharks In the Virgin Islands?
There has not been a great white shark sighting in the Virgin Islands, but a tiger shark and a bull shark were seen at the North Drop Off, a deep underwater plateau off the coast of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Diver Arnoldo Falcoff recounts an extraordinary shark encounter while assisting his friend, underwater cameraman Armando Jenik, in filming the National Geographic documentary, Sharks of the Caribbean . Using a 380-pound marlin as bait at the North Drop Off, their patience paid off when an 8-foot bull shark and a massive tiger shark arrived. The tiger shark devoured large chunks of the marlin, showcasing its formidable power, while the bull shark exhibited territorial behavior. Sharks were circling the divers who fended them off with bang stick charges, but no one was bitten.
Tiger Sharks At Buck Island Reef, St. Croix
According to one marine ecologist, tiger sharks have been seen around Buck Island Reef National Park in St. Croix, along with lemon sharks, nurse sharks, and Caribbean reef sharks.
Shark Attacks In The Virgin Islands
Shark bites are extremely rare in the Virgin Islands. Some sources say there have only been four verified shark attacks in the Virgin Islands, but there doesn’t appear to be any official records online to verify these claims.
Shark Attacks Around St. Thomas
The last known shark attack in St. Thomas USVI was at Candle Reef on August 2, 2020. A five foot long nurse shark bit Melanie Klein’s arm when she bumped into it in low visibility three foot deep waters.198 stitches were required.
Shark Attacks Around St. Croix
October 1972 Shark Fatality In Cane Bay, St. Croix
There was a shark attack fatality in St. Croix USVI in October 1972 when Bret Gilliam and his dive team were conducting marine research off Cane Bay, St. Croix, when two oceanic whitetip sharks attacked colleague Rod Temple at a depth of 210 feet. Despite Gilliam’s efforts to fend off the sharks and rescue Temple, the sharks inflicted fatal injuries, ultimately dragging Temple into the depths.
Gilliam himself narrowly survived, making an unassisted free ascent from approximately 400 feet—a record depth—while suffering from severe decompression sickness and injuries. His survival was credited to a vintage safety vest and swift aid from bystanders, including an ER nurse. The attack, speculated to have been triggered by submarine testing sounds, became a widely reported event and subject of documentaries, cementing its place in diving history. More on that incident here.
June 2023 Shark Related Fatality In Cane Bay, St. Croix
Paul Evans and his wife encountered sharks (the type not reported) during their second dive of the day. After signaling to resurface, Ms. Evans faced issues with faulty diving equipment, preventing her from rejoining her husband, who descended alone and needed to be rescued. Divers from Sweet Bottom Dive Shop located Mr. Evans’s body at a depth of 175 feet. In this case sharks did not bite or attack, and may not have any blame whatsoever for the accident. More here.
Shark Bites Around St. John USVI
There is only one mention of a shark bite around St. John, which happened around Honeymoon Beach according to a post on this forum. It seems to indicate that the attack was provoked.
Will I get Bitten By Sharks In The Virgin Islands?
The chance of getting bitten by a shark in the Virgin Islands is almost zero. It goes up drastically if you see a shark while swimming and provoke it, so please don’t try to test it. Sharks are a beautiful part of nature, and we love them the same as all of our other amazing underwater life here in the VI.
Sharks in the Virgin Islands
| Shark Species | Where Found | Bite Statistics |
|---|---|---|
| Caribbean Reef Shark | Reefs around St. Thomas and St. John | 24 bites worldwide, 0 fatalities |
| Lemon Shark | Shallow flats, mangroves, and reefs | 10 bites worldwide, 0 fatalities |
| Great Hammerhead | Reef locations | 34 bites worldwide, 0 fatalities |
| Blacktip Shark | Coastal waters around St. Thomas and St. John | 11 bites worldwide, 0 fatalities |
| Nurse Shark | Reefs and coral habitats | 51 bites worldwide, 0 fatalities |
| Tiger Shark | Shallow reefs, remote reefs, and steep drop-offs | 131 bites worldwide, 34 fatalities |