Shark
Great hammerhead
Sphyrna mokarran
The largest hammerhead, seen singly at Protea Banks in the warmer months, often shadowing the scalloped hammerhead schools; a tall sickle dorsal and broad head make it unmistakable.
- Max size
- Up to ~5.5m
- Habitat
- Coastal and offshore warm water
Best places to dive with Great hammerhead
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | peak season |
| February | peak season |
| March | peak season |
| April | occasional |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | occasional |
| November | peak season |
| December | peak season |
Great hammerheads show documented October–April seasonal residency. The commercial dive is provisioned and individual sharks vary in attendance.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | peak season |
| April | peak season |
| May | occasional |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Roughly October–May, peaking March–April at Protea Banks.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | occasional |
At Tiger Beach great hammerheads are a winter bonus, not the reason to come — occasional between December and March and never reliable. The dependable great hammerhead diving in the Bahamas is at Bimini, about 100km south, where they aggregate in shallow water from roughly December to March with January and February strongest; those are also baited dives, in around 6m of water. Divers specifically after hammerheads should book Bimini rather than Tiger Beach.
| 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 |
Research confirms great hammerheads use Andros waters, but no month-specific tourist encounter is promised.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.
View 1 source and checking notes
- The Sharks of Protea Banks, Wetpixel / Don Silcock