We thought Shark Week was the perfect time to highlight the states across the U.S. where Shark viewing is at its finest. If you’ve ever wanted to get closer to this incredible animal, consider a travel contract in one of the following states where an exciting shark adventure is waiting for you.
If you want to dive with with these great fish, Rhode Island is actually a great place to live and experience this adventure. Joe Rameiro, a Shark Week cinematographer, told USA Today that both mako sharks and blue sharks pass through the waters off of New England during summer and fall. He reported that it’s one of the few locations in the world that divers can encounter these types.
It’s not uncommon for popular beaches to be closed due to sightings of large sharks close to shore in the southern part of the state. San Diego or La Jolla are great choices for a planned shark diving excursion. Or if you’re in Northern California, San Francisco’s chilly waters offer a perfect habitat for great whites. Don’t worry, you don’t have to get in the water to see sharks in California. The Golden State is home to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, one of the premier aquariums in the world. The facility is home to a number of shark species, including blacktip reef sharks, broadnose sevengill sharks, leopard sharks, white sharks and many more.
If you’re looking for a less intense shark experience, you may want to consider working and living in Georgia. Atlanta is home to the Georgia Aquarium, which is the second best aquarium in the world, and the top in the U.S., according to Trip Advisor. The facility features 10 million gallons of water filled with a variety of sea creatures, including whale sharks, which are the largest living fish species.
However, if you really have your heart set on swimming with sharks, the aquarium does offer guests the opportunity to get in the water. The Journey with Gentle Giants program is the only opportunity in the world that guarantees you the chance to swim with these gigantic fish. The two and a half hour experience costs $235.95 for non-members.
If you needed another reason to live in the tropical paradise that is Hawaii, sharks could be it. This island state is the only one in the U.S. entirely surrounded by water, which makes your access to sharks convenient from just about any location. However, the North Shore may be your best bet.
“Hawaii is known for its beautiful beaches and big waves, but it’s also known for its amazing shark-diving action with Galapagos sharks,” Andy Casagrande IV, a Shark Week cinematographer, said in an interview with USA Today. “These feisty sharks congregate in the deep blue waters off the North Shore of Oahu and can be found mixing it up with sandbar sharks and tiger sharks. Tourists can view these awesome sharks from the safety of a shark cage and watch as they glide past.”
Only Alaska has more coastline than Florida. The Sunshine State is a great location for people looking to get up close and personal with marine life. According to the University of Florida’s Florida Sea Grant program, common sharks in the state’s waters include the blacktip shark, sandbar shark, spinner shark, nurse shark, scalloped hammerhead shark, bonnethead shark and sharpnose shark.
Another advantage of living in Florida is that you’re just a short flight away from Caribbean islands such as the Bahamas and Fiji, which have numerous world-known spots for diving with sharks.
According to Conde Nast Traveler, North Carolina should be on your shark diving bucket list. The magazine recommended diving in Wilmington, where you can see the wreckage of the Papoose, a tanker that was sunk by a German submarine in 1942. Sand tiger sharks can regularly be seen swimming around the sunken ship, making it an ideal diving spot if you’re hoping to swim with these sea creatures.