Shark
Tawny nurse shark
Nebrius ferrugineus
A large, docile nocturnal shark, sandy-brown with a small mouth and prominent barbels, that rests by day in caves and under coral ledges, sometimes stacked in groups. It suction-feeds on reef invertebrates and fish at night and is untroubled by divers.
- Max size
- Up to ~3.2m
- Habitat
- Reef caves, ledges, sandy channels and lagoons
Best places to dive with Tawny nurse shark
| 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 |
Resident year-round, resting in caves and under overhangs by day and active at night; often seen sheltering at sites like Kakani Thila.
| 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 |
A year-round, human-conditioned gathering occurs at Alimatha after dark. Research classifies the site as both a natural aggregation and a provisioned attraction; this does not establish natural residency or comparable encounter frequency elsewhere in Vaavu.
| 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 the provisioned shark dive; not assured.
| 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 |
The Penanjung Wreck is the site operators name for nurse sharks, which rest under the tug's structure. Not seen on the main wartime wrecks and not reliable enough to plan a trip around; the long boat ride to Penanjung also needs settled weather.
| 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 |
The Andaman nurse shark is Nebrius ferrugineus, not the Atlantic species. Western Rocky's tunnel is the best chance and animals of around 3m have been reported there. Shark Cave was named for them and they are now rarely seen at that site; Stewart Island's juveniles are also much less dependable than older trip reports suggest.
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
- Tawny nurse shark, Wikipedia
- Tawny Nurse Shark, Shark Research Institute