Fish Rock, Australia, 2010

Fish Rock, New South Wales, Australia - Sand Tiger Sharks (Carcharias taurus)

July 2010

Image description

The Sand Tiger (USA) or Grey Nurse Shark (Australia) Carcharias taurus is a large shark that can grow to more than 3 m length. Characteristic are the needle-like teeth that are always visible in the partially open mouth. The second dorsal fin is almost as large as the first dorsal fin. The color is brown - grey on top and white underside. The brown dots are highly characteristic and allow identifying individuals. Despite its size and fierce appearance it is considered harmless. The Sand Tiger Sharks are critically endangered species, and off the coasts of Queensland and New South Wales only about 500 individuals are estimated. Due to extensive hunting and the very slow reproduction rate these sharks are almost extinguished at the east coast of Australia.

The famous Fish Rock close to South West Rocks is one of the best spots worldwide to observe Sand Tiger Sharks. They slowly swim in depths between 25 and 35 m on top of sandy canyons. I have seen at least ten sharks, probably there were more around. During the two days I was diving there the weather was stormy and the water very rough. The visibility was therefore quite modest.

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock , Jul 20, 09 h 17 min (20 mm, 1/125 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

1

Fish Rock

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock , Jul 20, 09 h 16 min (20 mm, 1/125 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

2

Fish Rock

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock , Jul 20, 09 h 21 min (10 mm, 1/125 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

3

Fish Rock

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock , Jul 20, 09 h 21 min (10 mm, 1/125 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

4

Fish Rock

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock , Jul 20, 09 h 21 min (18 mm, 1/125 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

5

Fish Rock

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock , Jul 20, 09 h 21 min (18 mm, 1/125 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

6

Fish Rock

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock , Jul 20, 09 h 27 min (20 mm, 1/125 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

7

Fish Rock

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock , Jul 20, 09 h 28 min (20 mm, 1/125 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

8

Fish Rock

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock , Jul 20, 09 h 28 min (20 mm, 1/125 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

9

Fish Rock

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock , Jul 20, 09 h 28 min (20 mm, 1/125 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

10

Fish Rock

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock Pinnacle, Jul 21, 10 h 01 min (20 mm, 1/100 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

11

Fish Rock Pinnacle

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock Pinnacle, Jul 21, 10 h 01 min (20 mm, 1/100 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

12

Fish Rock Pinnacle

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock Pinnacle, Jul 21, 10 h 04 min (20 mm, 1/100 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

13

Fish Rock Pinnacle

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock Pinnacle, Jul 21, 10 h 04 min (20 mm, 1/100 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

14

Fish Rock Pinnacle

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock Pinnacle, Jul 21, 10 h 04 min (20 mm, 1/100 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

15

Fish Rock Pinnacle

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock Pinnacle, Jul 21, 10 h 04 min (14 mm, 1/100 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

16

Fish Rock Pinnacle

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock Pinnacle, Jul 21, 10 h 04 min (10 mm, 1/100 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

17

Fish Rock Pinnacle

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock Pinnacle, Jul 21, 10 h 04 min (10 mm, 1/100 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

18

Fish Rock Pinnacle

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock Pinnacle, Jul 21, 10 h 05 min (20 mm, 1/100 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

19

Fish Rock Pinnacle

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock Pinnacle, Jul 21, 10 h 05 min (20 mm, 1/100 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

20

Fish Rock Pinnacle

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock Pinnacle, Jul 21, 10 h 06 min (20 mm, 1/100 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

21

Fish Rock Pinnacle

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Fish Rock Pinnacle, Jul 21, 10 h 06 min (20 mm, 1/100 sec at f / 5,6, ISO 100)

22

Fish Rock Pinnacle

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus) teeth

, Sep 10, 17 h 38 min (60 mm, 1/250 sec at f / 18, ISO 3200)

23

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus) teeth

, Sep 10, 17 h 37 min (60 mm, 1/250 sec at f / 18, ISO 3200)

24