One of the frequently asked questions received by OnBird pertains to the presence of sharks in the waters surrounding Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam. This post aims to explore five key factors: the water temperature suitable for shark habitats, species of sharks hazardous to humans, shark sizes, and locations where shark hunting occurs. By delving into these aspects, a clearer comprehension of the marine environment around Phu Quoc and the existence of sharks or large predatory fish within its waters will be provided.
Established in 2018, OnBird Phu Quoc is a brand specializing in Discovery-oriented On-sea Experiences created by Coral Mountain Travel Services and Trading Limited Company which is a licensed international tour operator. Every OnBird experience is managed and operated based on scientific factors to provide our guests with a genuine experience. OnBird fights for sustainable coral reefs-friendly experiences and marine life preservation.
ONBIRD- DEVELOPED BIOROCK – An Effective And Natural Solution For Coral Reef Restoration In Phu Quoc
MAIN CONTENTS
- Phu Quoc Water Temperature
- Water Temperature and Human Dangerous Sharks or Predators
- Sharks or Animals Grow Larger In Colder Waters
- Predator Sharks Avoid Hunting In The Warm Waters At The Equator
- Phu Quoc Sea and Sharks and Overfishing Situation
- FEED THE OCEAN – OnBird joins Marine Biologists to release caught sea creatures back to the reefs
- What Do You Need To Protect Yourself In The Water For Snorkeling & Diving In Phu Quoc?
Phu Quoc Water Temperature
The chart illustrates the average, minimum, and maximum monthly sea temperatures in Phu Quoc. Typically, the water temperature in Phu Quoc ranges from 26.4°C to 29.3°C, categorizing it as very warm water. The highest temperatures are usually experienced from April to June, during the summer or early rainy season, while the coldest water temperatures occur between November and February. Phu Quoc is renowned for its consistently warm waters throughout the year. However, the water temperature can feel cold, ranging from 26.4°C to 27°C, owing to the significant variance between the air and underwater temperatures.
Water Temperature and Human Dangerous Sharks or Predators
There are more than 480 shark species however not all of them are dangerous to humans, but only a few species of more than 480 shark species are dangerous to humans as well as being are commonly considered apex predators including 3 species: the Great White, Tiger and Bull Shark, they are also classified into human-dangerous sharks, and the rest of shark species are human-harmless sharks. These 3 shark species are responsible for two-digit numbers of fatal unprovoked attacks on humans and they so far are only found in lower-than-26°C waters.
According to the study, the United States, South Africa, Australia and Egypt are the regions most likely to suffer a shark attack which have water temperatures between 12 and 24 °C (54 and 75 °F). For example:
The white shark is found globally in temperate and subtropical waters, frequently undertaking seasonal migrations to remain within its optimal temperature range of approximately 50 to 80 °F or 10°C to 26.6 °C. Along the U.S. Atlantic coast, these sharks can be observed from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. Caribbean region.
Tiger sharks, one of tropical Sharks, simply prefer warm waters but it is rare a highly migratory species with a distribution that stretches from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. They prefer warm waters (roughly 72 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer
In Phu Quoc, there are no reports of large sharks, including white sharks, tiger sharks, or bull sharks posing a danger to humans off the coast.
Sharks or Animals Grow Larger In Colder Waters
These results showed that sharks living in cooler waters tended to be larger than those living in warmer waters. This correlates with a principle known as Bergmann’s rule, where animals found in colder climates are often larger as a greater size allows them to retain more heat. Thereby you usually don’t see large animals in the very warm waters above 27 °C like Phu Quoc. However sometimes whales and whale sharks can visit Phu Quoc Island but they dont stay long.
Predator Sharks Avoid Hunting In The Warm Waters At The Equator
Human dangerous sharks and other large predatory fish avoid hunting in the warm waters at the equator and instead prefer to live in milder conditions further north and south. A study found the favored hunting grounds of the animals is at latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees, a region including Europe, the USA and much of southern Africa where are milder conditions than near equator conditions.
Biodiversity tends to increase in both the oceans and on land around the equator due to the more humid climate and warmer temperatures. But despite the wider range of species, studies of land-based ecosystems found mixed evidence that they were interacting with each other more than in cooler climates.
They found that predator attacks or shark attacks were more frequent in temperate regions – roughly between 30 and 60 degrees north and south.
Phu Quoc is situated in equatorial waters, outside the typical latitudes of 30 to 60 degrees where sharks known to pose a threat to humans are commonly found.
Phu Quoc Sea and Sharks and Overfishing Situation
In Phu Quoc, the likelihood of encountering large, potentially dangerous sharks such as the white shark, bull shark, and tiger shark is minimal due to the consistently warm temperatures exceeding 27°C, which lie outside their typical habitat range. However, visitors may have the opportunity to observe non-threatening shark species like bamboo sharks and the infrequently seen whale sharks, known for their filter-feeding behavior. Among these, the Burmese Bamboo Shark stands out as a popular species found in the waters of Phu Quoc. It is noteworthy that out of over 480 shark species, only a small fraction pose a threat to humans, while the majority, including the bamboo shark, are considered harmless.
Like most harmless sharks, bamboo sharks are docile and non-aggressive. Bamboo sharks pose no threat to humans, and there have never been any reported cases of human attacks. In Phu Quoc, bamboo sharks have been observed to let divers pet them without causing any harm. The maximum reported size of the bamboo shark is around 104 cm in total length.
Like other reef sharks, bamboo sharks inhabit shallow water coral and rocky reefs along coastlines, and submerged sea mounts. They are found below 4 meters in the Phu Quoc Sea at the coral reefs at coral reefs such as Coral Jungle Reef and North-east Coral Reef.
As predators, Burmese bamboo sharks play an important role in regulating prey populations and maintaining the overall balance within their ecosystem, like other sharks, bamboo sharks have been controlling the abundance of small fishes and invertebrates, and they contribute to the health and stability of the marine community.
Alert: Currently, visiting the Duong Dong market reveals a concerning sight: live bamboo sharks being openly traded along the roadside. The relentless overfishing in the waters of Phu Quoc poses a significant risk to the already threatened coral reefs in the region. In light of this, OnBird strongly advises against supporting the consumption of bamboo sharks in Phu Quoc.
On April 10, 2018, a whale shark was sighted near Phu Quoc Island, in proximity to the maritime border between Cambodia and Vietnam. It is worth noting that the whale shark is a species considered harmless to humans as it primarily consumes tiny planktonic organisms such as krill, jellyfish, and crab larvae. These organisms are filtered from the water through the shark’s gills by a delicate mesh of structures known as gill rakers.
According to old fishermen, there were whales and whale sharks spotted off the coast of Phu Quoc island close to Cua Can, Ganh Dau, An Thoi archipelago in the past.
Honestly, Phu Quoc water is suitable for some shark species such as whale sharks and bamboo sharks as well as dolphins, dugongs, and turtles… however, due to the overfishing situation nowadays, it is rare to see turtles, dolphins, dugongs, and sharks in Phu Quoc.
FEED THE OCEAN – OnBird joins Marine Biologists to release caught sea creatures back to the reefs
OnBird Phu Quoc is excited to invite you to participate in our newly launched campaign called “Feed The Ocean”. The objective of this campaign is to preserve the marine life of Phu Quoc which is currently facing significant degradation.
We have been initiating the campaign since 25 Jan 2024 and this activity will be conducted by OnBird periodically as our commitment to conserve the coral reefs in Phu Quoc Island.
During this campaign, we will release “sea horses”, “pregnant crabs” and other fish at coral reefs around Phu Quoc Island, which are our snorkeling & diving spots. Our team of underwater guides and marine biologists will accompany you on the boat and in the water to ensure that everything is done safely and responsibly.
What Do You Need To Protect Yourself In The Water For Snorkeling & Diving In Phu Quoc?
For sure you don’t need a shark band in Phu Quoc Island but you need a UV-protected long-sleeve rashguard to reduce sunscreen which is harmful to the corals.
Also, you need a professional operator to show you where should you discover due to the complicated changes in the water conditions of Phu Quoc Island.
You can visit our shop (Map) in Phu Quoc Island for this rash-guard
[SMALL-GROUP] MARINE LIFE DISCOVERY: 3 CORAL REEFS & NATURAL BEACH (Max 12 PAX)