Dive with
Best places to dive with Scalloped hammerhead shark
Sphyrna lewini
Schools of hammerheads are a signature Socorro sighting, most consistently reported around Roca Partida and Cabo Pearce. They typically stay at the edge of visibility in open water rather than approaching closely.
Destinations ranked by how reliably scalloped hammerhead shark is seen. The bars show the likelihood by month — never a guarantee. See the full species page for more.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | peak season |
| September | peak season |
| October | peak season |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
The marquee species. Schools are seen over seamounts and at cleaning stations across the year; sources agree the largest aggregations, sometimes 100 to 500+ individuals, form in the late rainy season, roughly August to October. IUCN lists the species as Critically Endangered.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | peak season |
| February | peak season |
| March | peak season |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | peak season |
| December | peak season |
Schools at Protea Banks in the warmer months (roughly spring and summer); source windows vary.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | peak season |
| August | peak season |
| September | peak season |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | rare |
Schools concentrate at Jackson Reef in the Straits of Tiran and around Ras Mohammed in summer, roughly July to September. Sightings mean handling current in the blue and are never guaranteed.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Schools are present year-round at Wolf, Darwin, Gordon Rocks and Kicker Rock. Sources genuinely conflict on the densest months — warm-season (calmer, clearer) versus cool-season upwelling — so this is coded reliable year-round rather than a single peak.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | not seen |
| February | not seen |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | rare |
A pelagic-season chance (roughly September-November) when cold upwelling is strongest; sightings are uncommon and depend on conditions and depth.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | rare |
| June | not seen |
| July | not seen |
| August | not seen |
| September | not seen |
| October | not seen |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
A seasonal bonus at Kimud Shoal, December–April and peaking March–April, when schools may appear at dawn — but sightings have become rare and unreliable in recent years.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Occasional on the deep sites (Peleliu, deep Blue Corner) early in the morning, a little more likely March–April.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | rare |
| November | not seen |
| December | rare |
Occasional at South Point, more likely with cooler mid-year upwelling; never reliable (Sipadan closed in November).
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | not seen |
| July | not seen |
| August | not seen |
| September | not seen |
| October | not seen |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Schools pass by at the edge of visibility, most consistently around Roca Partida and Cabo Pearce, throughout the operating season.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Reported mainly April–June, often on deeper walls and at the South Atoll, but sightings are unpredictable and never guaranteed.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Hammerheads are reported occasionally at Manta Bowl and in Ticao Pass but are far from reliable — treat as a rare bonus, not a target. Requires the offshore dive.