Search no more! In this blog, Louisa talks about the best locations to find our top five marine animals:

When & Where to See Hammerhead Sharks

Hammerhead sharks are named after the unusual and distinctive shape of their heads, which are flattened and extended sideways into a "hammer" shape called a "cephalofoil". There is no actual explanation for their strangely shaped heads but apparently it's because the positioning of the eyes give the shark improved vision, as well as 360-degree views, meaning they can see above and below them at all times. In terms of their diet, hammerhead sharks are known to eat a wide range of items including fish, squid, octopus and crustaceans, and they usually swim in schools along the bottom of the sea to search for food. If you fancy a dive with these amazing creatures, here is list of when and where to see them:

To learn more about hammerhead sharks, visit our Top Ten Hammerhead Shark Facts blog.

When & Where to See Manta Rays

Manta rays are highly intelligent creatures, with the largest brain-to-body ratio of all sharks and rays, and many of them show an outstanding skill to interplay with divers and snorkellers. Mantas are the largest of the rays and glide through water much like birds through the air. At feeding time, these gentle giants eat plankton, fish larvae and the like, which is filtered from the water that passes through their gills as they swim. Mantas live in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide and prefer open water close to the surface, where they usually travel alone. Swimming with mantas is high on the priority list of marine life to see for all divers, so if you fancy a go, here is when and where to see them:

When & Where to See Turtles

Sea turtles come in many different shapes, colours and sizes (sometimes up to 600kg!) yet the most common species you are likely to come across are the hawksbill, greenback or loggerhead turtle. They don't have teeth, but their jaws have modified "beaks" which fits to their particular diet. They do not have visible ears but have eardrums covered by skin, and their sense of smell is outstanding. They can see and move very well underwater, yet their vision and movement is restricted when on land. If you would like to experience a dive with turtles, read below for where and when the best time to do it is:

  • July: Green, leatherback and hawksbill turtles in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica
  • August: Green turtles in Sipadan, Borneo
  • October: Green and loggerhead turtles at the Ningaloo Reef, Australia

When & Where to See Humpback Whales

The humpback whale can reach lengths of up to 16 metres, and can weigh up to 36,000kgs, WOW! They have distinctive body shapes, with their long fins and tail, allowing them to slap the water's surface with force. Their diet consists of mainly krill and small fish, and they tend to use the bubble net feeding technique to trap their prey. Humpback whales can be found in many oceans and seas around the world, read below to find out where to see them!

When & Where to See Whale Sharks

Whale Sharks are by far the largest fish in the sea, with a growth of up to 40 feet, a weight of over 30 tonnes and life expectancy of 70 years. This gentle giants' favourite meal is plankton, and in order to feed, it expands its' terrifyingly large jaws and sucks in everything from the surrounding area. Whale sharks can be found in warm waters, in every tropical sea, and divers and snorkelers can swim with them without risk, apart from unintentional blows from the shark's large tail fin! If you fancy hanging out with these human friendly creatures, find out when and where to see them here:

If you would like any more information on the marine life mentioned, or on our tailor-made dive holidays, please contact Original Diving. See if you can experience them all! When & Where to See Turtles