Blacktip reef sharks are frequently seen when diving in Kota Kinabalu, particularly around Gaya and Mamutik Islands within the KK marine park. They mostly prefer shallow, inshore waters where they feed upon small fish, squid, and crustaceans, which is great as divers don’t have to go too deep to see them and even snorkelers can get the magical experience to see them. The Blacktip reef shark is a docile and inquisitive shark species, so if you ever wanted to snorkel with sharks then this is a great opportunity!
The Blacktip reef shark has a sleek grey-coloured body, rounded snout, horizontal eyes, and tell-tale attractive black tips on all of its fins. Despite their mouth full of serrated teeth, they are known to be docile and timid around humans, so there is nothing to worry about being around these guys!
Size-wise, the blacktip reef shark is a small to medium-sized shark. They can grow to be up to 2 meters long and weigh between 60 and 100kg.
Blacktip reef sharks can live for more than ten years and reach maturity at the age of four to five years.
While most sharks are solo hunters, blacktip reef sharks are often seen traveling in small groups which is helpful for more effective results hunting their prey. Their diet consists of fish, which are abundant around the coral reefs, crustaceans and have even been seen hunting rays! They are extremely fast and skilled predators which normally hunt at night.
Blacktip reef sharks are viviparous sharks, which means they give birth to live pups instead of eggs. Their gestation period is believed to be around 10-12 months, giving birth to an average of four or five pups per litter. Courtship involves one or more males trailing closely behind a female. Reproductive behavior consists of distinct pairing with an embrace, in which the male grasps the female’s pectoral fin between his teeth and mates belly to belly. Females rest for 8-14 months between pregnancies to rebuild their energy stores.
They can be found all across the world’s oceans. They prefer shallow waters to deep oceans, and can frequently be seen at depths of less than one metre. The preferred habitat for blacktip reef sharks is around coral reefs with clean and warm water, as well as nooks and crannies to hide in. They are quite often seen hanging out in groups.
The blacktip reef shark offers a wonderful opportunity to get up close to safe sharks, they are a very peaceful, non-aggressive species. So leave your fears at home, pack your gear, and jump in to get to know this beautiful shark species here in Kota Kinabalu.
