Shark
Indo-Pacific Leopard Shark (Zebra Shark)
Stegostoma tigrinum
A docile, bottom-resting carpet shark, spotted as an adult and striped as a juvenile. Called the leopard shark locally in Thailand and the zebra shark elsewhere. Regularly seen resting on the sand between Similan reefs. IUCN lists it Endangered from fishing pressure across its range.
- Max size
- 2.5m
- Habitat
- Sandy patches and reef flats to about 60m; often seen resting motionless on the bottom by day
Best places to dive with Indo-Pacific Leopard Shark (Zebra Shark)
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | peak season |
| February | peak season |
| March | occasional |
| April | not seen |
| May | not seen |
| June | not seen |
| July | not seen |
| August | not seen |
| September | not seen |
| October | not seen |
| November | not seen |
| December | occasional |
Possible in the region; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.
| 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 |
The Indo-Pacific leopard (zebra) shark is the region's signature reliable sighting, resting on sandy patches at the Bida islands, Shark Point and Hin Bida through the year. Numbers are best in the calm dry season when boats reach the sites most consistently.
| 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 |
The leopard (zebra) shark is a docile, spotted resident of several Tofo reefs, often found lying on the sand.
| 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 |
Indo-Pacific leopard sharks use resting sites in the eastern part of Maratua Atoll, where survey work recorded 2-3 individuals together on about 70% of dives at those specific spots. Away from the resting sites they are a chance sighting, so ask whether your operator actually dives them.
| 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 |
Leopard (zebra) sharks rest on sandy patches around the pinnacles and Koh Ha, most often in the calm dry season.
| 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 |
Indo-Pacific zebra/leopard shark (Stegostoma) resting on sand or reef; reported at Stonehenge and 8 Mile Rock.
| 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 |
Reported on the sand at Shark's Cave and Crack Reef. Occasional rather than dependable — a good day's sighting, not a scheduled one.
| 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 |
Indo-Pacific leopard shark, Stegostoma tigrinum, listed as a supporting species for the Black Rock & the Twins ISRA. Usually resting on sand at the base of slopes at Black Rock, North Twin and Fan Forest Pinnacle. Population is Endangered across its range and numbers here reflect that.
| 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 |
Among the more commonly encountered sharks in the Similans, often resting on sand near reef edges through the open season. Sightings vary day to day. Not present during the mid-May to mid-October park closure.
| 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 |
Indo-Pacific zebra/leopard shark, seen resting on sand near Torinla Pinnacle and other reef edges through the season.
| 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 |
Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.
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
- Zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum), Wikipedia
- Sharks at the Similan Islands, Similan Dive Center