Smalltooth Sand Tiger Shark: June 19, 2016

NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas. Download larger version (mp4, 73.5 MB).

 

Happy #SharkAwarenessDay (July 14)! Though sharks may sometimes get a bad rap, as top predators, they play an important role in maintaining the balance of a healthy ocean ecosystem.

We encountered this smalltooth sand tiger shark (Odontaspis ferox) during a 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas dive at a depth of approximately 352 meters (1,155 feet). The shark measured nearly 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length.