Shark
Bull shark (Zambezi shark)
Carcharhinus leucas
A thickset requiem shark, known locally as the Zambezi, that patrols both shoals year-round but concentrates in the warm months. A mainstay of Protea’s Southern Pinnacle and of Aliwal’s baited dives.
- Max size
- Up to ~3.5m
- Habitat
- Coastal reefs and estuaries; tolerates fresh water
Best places to dive with Bull shark (Zambezi shark)
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | peak season |
| February | peak season |
| March | peak season |
| April | peak season |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | occasional |
| November | peak season |
| December | peak season |
Resident but strongest in the warm months (roughly November–May) and thin in early spring.
| 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 |
Regular at the provisioned Shark Reef programme; presence and numbers still vary.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Possible at El Vencedor; daily presence varies.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Occasional at the Great Blue Hole, where a few may join the reef sharks in the deep. Not reliably seen; encounters are opportunistic, not seasonal.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Possible throughout the operating year; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | occasional |
A cooler-month visitor. Operators report bull sharks patrolling the edges of the bait sites through winter and into about April, fairly commonly but not on every dive. Bimini is the more reliable Bahamian bull shark option in the same season.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.
View 2 sources and checking notes
- Shark Diving Protea Banks, African Dive Adventures
- Protea Banks, Wikipedia