At a glance

Length

Typically 1.5–1.8 m; up to about 2.5 m

Depth

Reef edges and channels, to about 280 m

Diet

Reef fish, squid, octopus and crustaceans

Status

Endangered

How to recognise it

A sleek, classic reef shark with a rounded snout and large eyes. The giveaway is the broad black band along the entire trailing edge of the tail.

Where we meet them

Hanging in the current at the channel mouths on an incoming tide — and a regular on our Hulhumalé Shark Tank Dive.

Best timeYear-round; the eastern channels peak January – March.

Behaviour

Social and curious, grey reefs gather in loose groups along channel walls, holding position in the flow. When one feels crowded it gives a clear warning — back arched, snout raised, pectoral fins dropped — and the right response is to calmly back away.

Diving with them

Hook in, hold position and let them come to the edge of the current. Give them space, especially if one starts that hunched display.

Status & protection

Endangered. Reef sharks stay close to their home reefs and reproduce slowly, which makes them especially vulnerable to fishing. The Maldives banned all shark fishing in 2010.