Basking Shark
Cetorhinus maximus
Size:
to 45 ft
Habitat:
open ocean
Notes:
harmless
The Basking Shark is second in size only to the Whale Shark, and much more likely to be spotted in our cool northern waters. Like the Whale Shark, the Basking Shark is a harmless plankton feeder. While the Whale Shark has a brown and cream checkerboard pattern on its back, the Basking Shark is more uniformly gray, making identification easy. It also differs in profile: while the Whale Shark has a broad square snout, the Basking Shark has a pointed conical snout, much like its cousin the Great White, for which it may be mistaken.
Basking Sharks are common off Massachusetts and northward, and not uncommon off New Jersey and Long Island, where they swim lazily at the surface ( hence the name ) and are probably responsible for most reports of monster Great Whites. A 20-foot Basking Shark would be of small-to-average size, while a 20 foot White Shark would be of unheard-of proportions.
As you can see, a Basking Shark really doesn't look or act much like a Great White, so all you South Jersey divers can stop scaring yourselves silly whenever you run across one. But then, what newspaper is going to print a story like "Divers Encounter Harmless Basking Shark"? I suppose a little embellishment is necessary to get your name in the news.
Here is an assortment of large sharks that can be found in New Jersey waters, by no means all of them. These are more likely to be found offshore in oceanic waters. Sharks are seldom a danger to divers, they seem to be put off by the noise and bubbles. Nonetheless, all should be treated with caution.
Realistically, sharks in our waters are not a great concern. In over 350 northeast ocean dives, I have seen sharks on only several occasions ( not counting harmless little Dogfishes ) and only once while in the water. That one was in the Mud Hole, on the Arundo, to be precise. It was a Blue, or possibly a Mako, and wanted nothing to do with me, which was a relief since I had half an hour of deco left to do at the time! That would have left me very bent otherwise.
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and the very not toothless Great White Shark at right.
If you think about it, humans must taste terrible to sharks, and scuba divers especially - with rubber suits and big metal tanks. Many shark attacks occur in murky water where the shark is not sure what it is attacking. Some attacks have been the result of the shark being stepped on in shallow water. Most shark attacks on humans are abortive, the shark taking only one exploratory bite, then realizing its mistake and breaking off the attack. Unfortunately, with a large shark, one bite and you're dead. Many predators, from bears to tigers, will prey on humans when sickness, injury, or old age make them unable to catch their normal prey. Sharks are probably no different.
More: Sharks - Offshore ...