Shark
Silvertip shark
Carcharhinus albimarginatus
A large requiem shark named for the white margins on its fins. At Cocos it is most reliably seen at the shallow Silverado cleaning station rather than on the deeper hammerhead seamounts. IUCN lists it as Vulnerable.
- Max size
- Up to about 3m
- Habitat
- Offshore reefs, seamounts and drop-offs, often around isolated islands
Best places to dive with Silvertip shark
| 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 |
Listed as a supporting species in the 2024 Banda Islands ISRA factsheet. Most often reported at the exposed offshore sites — Suanggi, Nil Desperandum and the southern atolls — rather than around the inhabited Banda Islands.
| 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 |
Associated with a specific cleaning station (Silverado) south of Chatham Bay; not a general sighting across most Cocos dives. No strong seasonal pattern in the sources.
| 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 |
Recorded at Farikede and the provisioned Tiger Harbour site. A March–August 2022 camera deployment found silvertips on 16% of deployment days at the southern forereef; broader monthly timing remains uncertain.
| 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 | 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.
| 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 |
Described by dive media covering the atoll as an occasional visitor to the walls alongside greys and hammerheads. Coded rare because the reports are anecdotal and none give frequency.
| 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 |
The Burma Banks were famous for silvertips in the 1990s, when baited encounters with numbers of large animals were routine. Fishing pressure has thinned them and few itineraries still make the 125km run west. Code this as a long shot on an unusual itinerary, not a Mergui highlight.
| 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 the region; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.
| 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
- A Guide to the Dive Sites of Cocos Island, Aqua-Firma
- Silvertip shark, Wikipedia