(Prionace glauca) Atlantic blue sharks migrate across the Atlantic Ocean each year, following the warm Gulf Stream waters on their eastward trip. They travel a circuit from the Caribbean Sea, along the coast of the USA, east to Europe, south to the African coast, and back to the Caribbean. Blue sharks are pelagic; they are found in open waters. Like most pelagic sharks, they are found worldwide. The blue shark's sleek, tapered body makes it a graceful swimmer. Its elongated caudal fin (tail) provides swimming power as the tail moves side-to-side. These sharks are among the fastest swimming sharks and can even leap out of the water. They are also probably among the fastest fish. Conservative estimates of their speed are about 22 mph. The blue shark preys primarily upon schooling fishes such as anchovies, sardines, herring and also squid. It will, however, attack virtually anything, including gill-netted salmon and wounded marine animals. Blue sharks grow to be up to 12.5 feet long. Blue sharks are considered mildly dangerous, and there have been attacks on people.

(Carcharhinus leucas) The bull shark gets its name from its stout appearance and pugnacious reputation. Bull sharks occur in tropical to subtropical coastal waters worldwide as well as in numerous river systems and some freshwater lakes. The bull shark prefers to live in shallow coastal waters less than 100 feet deep, but ranges from 3-450 feet deep. It commonly enters estuaries, bays, harbors, lagoons, and river mouths. It is the only shark species that readily occurs in freshwater, and apparently can spend long periods of time in such environs. The maximum reported length of the bull shark is 11.5 feet, weighing over 500 pounds. Bony fishes and small sharks make up the vast majority of the bull shark's diet. In the western Atlantic they commonly feed on mullet, tarpon, catfishes, menhaden, gar, snook, jacks, mackerel, snappers, and other schooling fish. They also regularly consume stingrays and juvenile sharks including small individuals of their own species in their inshore nursery habitats. Bull are quick and effective at capturing smaller, agile prey, and are capable of burst speeds of over 11 mph. Bull sharks are reportedly responsible for at least 69 unprovoked attacks on humans around the world, 17 of which resulted in fatality. In reality this species is likely responsible for many more, and has been considered by many experts to be the most dangerous shark in the world.

(Isurus oxyrinchus) The shortfin mako's common name is derived from the Maori term mako-mako, which roughly translated, means "man-eater". The shortfin mako has a wide distribution. It is found in tropical and temperate waters throughout the world's oceans. The shortfin mako is a true pelagic species with a primarily anti-tropical distribution. However, they will inhabit the cooler, deeper water of tropical regions. Average adult size is 10 ft and 135-300 lbs. The shortfin mako is the fastest shark, capable of attaining speeds of up to 20 mph, and leaping skillfully out of the water. The mako holds the speed record for long distance travel: approximately 1320 miles in 37 days for an average of about 58 km (36 miles) per day. The shortfin mako feeds on other fast-moving pelagic fishes such as swordfish, tunas, and other sharks as well as squid. Although oceanic species, the shortfin mako's power, aggressiveness, teeth and great speed, make it a danger to humans. Shortfin makos have been blamed for a number of nonfatal and fatal attacks on humans. Divers who have encountered shortfin makos note that they swim in a figure eight

(Triaenodon obesus) The Whitetip is wide-ranging and is found in the Indo-Pacific and central Pacific: South Africa, Red Sea, India, Maldives, Seychelles, Australia, Philippines, Hawaiian Islands. It is the most abundant species in reef areas and prefers shallow water, but has been found down to 330m. They live close to the bottom or motionless on the bottom,or in caves and crevices. Compared to the typical reef sharks (requiem sharks), this species swims in a more undulating manner. The Whitetip is primarily nocturnal, but seems to be correlated with tidal ranges. They can be found in the same area for months (a few square kilometers) but territoriality is not known. During the night the normally docile Whitetip Reef sharks become very active searching out fish, octopuses, cuttlefish, crabs and lobsters. The Whitetip is probably the most common shark encountered by divers and snorkelers on tropical reefs. While it has the potential to give a serious bite if molested, baited or provoked, the Whitetip Reef Shark is generally considered to be harmless to humans.

(Carcharodon carcharias) The white shark, also known as "great white", and "white pointer", is believed to have received its name from the appearance of dead specimens lying on deck, ventral side up with stark white underbelly revealed. The white shark is cosmopolitan but occurs mostly in temperate seas, with large individuals known to penetrate tropical waters. It makes sporadic movements to cold, boreal waters and has been recorded off Alaskan and Canadian coasts. The white shark is principally an epipelagic (living in the upper part of the water column) dweller of neritic (nearshore) waters. However, it ranges from the surfline to well offshore and from the surface and to depths over 775 ft. This shark commonly patrols small coastal archipelagos inhabited by pinnipeds (seal, sea lions and walruses), offshore reefs, banks and shoals and rocky headlands where deepwater lies close to shore. The white shark usually cruises in a purposeful manner, either just off the bottom or near the surface, but spends very little time at midwater depths. The maximum size attained by white sharks has been the target of many debates and spurious information. Scientists now suggest that the maximum total length of this species is about 22.3 ft, but legend has them upwards of 38’. The white shark is also capable of short, high-speed pursuits and even launching itself clear from the surface. The white shark is a macropredator, known to be active during the daytime. Its most important prey items are marine mammals (including, seals, sea lions, elephant seals, dolphins) and fishes (including other sharks and rays). Marine reptiles are sporadically ingested, mostly sea turtles. The white shark has been credited with more fatal attacks on humans than any other species of shark. This is due primarily to its size, power and feeding behavior .

(Carcharhiniformes Sphyrnidae) The great hammerhead swims in warm and relatively warm water along the coastlines. They live over the continental shelves and the adjacent drop-off (the upper part of the mesopelagic zone) to depths of about 260 feet. The great hammerhead is found in tropical and sub-tropical waters worldwide. The average great hammerhead shark is up to 11.5 feet long, but the largest reported was 20 feet. These large sharks average about over 500 pounds but can weigh as much as 1,000 pounds. The great hammerhead is a fierce predator with a good sense of smell that helps it find its prey. The great hammerhead eats fish, including rays, and other sharks, squid, octopuses, and crustaceans. The great hammerhead has been known to be cannibalistic. Stingrays seem to be a particular favorite of the great hammerhead. It kills the ray by using its "hammer" to pin the stingray down while it takes bites from the ray's wings. Many of the hammerheads are harmless to people, but a few species, like the great hammerhead, can be very dangerous.

(Galeocerdo cuvier) Tiger shark, leopard shark, maneater shark, and spotted shark are English language common names that refer to this shark. The tiger shark is found throughout the world's temperate and tropical waters, with the exception of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a wide-ranging species that is at home both in the open ocean as well as shallow coastal waters. This shark has a notable tolerance for many different kinds of marine habitat but generally prefers murky waters in coastal areas. It is commonly found in river estuaries, harbors, and other inlets where runoff from the land may attract a high number of prey items. Shallow areas around large island chains and oceanic islands including lagoons, are also part of the tiger shark's natural environment. One of the largest sharks, the tiger shark commonly reaches a length of 10-14 ft and weighs over 850-1400 lbs. Undoubtedly the least discriminative all species, the tiger shark has a reputation as an animal that will eat almost anything. Preferred prey varies depending upon geographical region but commonly includes sea turtles, rays, other sharks, bony fishes, sea birds, dolphins, squid, various crustaceans and carrion. The tiger shark's highly serrated teeth combined with the saw-like action from shaking the head back and forth allows it to tear chunks from much larger marine animals. The tiger shark is second only to the white shark in number of reported attacks on humans. Its large size and voraciousness make it a formidable predator in the ocean. Tiger sharks can be curious and aggressive towards humans in the water and must be considered with a great deal of respect.