Blue Shark ~ New Jersey Scuba Diving

Blue Shark

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Prionace glauca

Size:
to 11 ft,
reportedly to 21ft

Habitat:
open ocean

Notes:
dangerous

A fast-swimming oceanic shark, these are colored vivid blue in life, but quickly fade to gray in death. The Blue shark is described as a persistent and dangerous stalker and is often found in great numbers. This is the shark most likely seen in caged shark dives off Rhode Island and is probably the commonest shark in our offshore waters during the summer months. Other identifying features of the Blue shark are the extremely long pectoral fins and relatively slim body ( compared to those below ) with very unequal upper and lower tail lobes.

A Blue Shark pesters a remote video camera ( NEFSC )
( You may notice that it has a fishing leader trailing from its mouth. )

Blue Shark feeding on herring ( NEFSC )

Fishes of the Gulf of Maine

Sharks - Offshore

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.

Note the difference between the toothless Basking Shark at left
and the very not toothless Great White Shark at right.

Note the difference between the toothless Basking Shark at left
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 ...

Blue Shark

Sharks - Offshore

Atlantus