Lemon sharks are synonymous with the Bahamas because of the pioneering research carried out in Bimini by Doc Sonny Gruber, who taught us that sharks lead complicated lives.

Dr. Alexander Mustard

These sharks change habitat as they grow. The young favor the protection of the mangroves, while subadults tend to congregate in shallow lagoons. Adults range more widely, returning to their breeding grounds each spring.

Dr. Alexander Mustard

Once one of the most common sharks in the oceans, they are now very hard to find. Open ocean dives in the Atlantic in the eastern Bahamas are one of the few opportunities that can still provide reliable encounters. The defining characteristic of this species is its lack of fear; it will eagerly swim right up to divers to investigate. I am sure it’s their boldness — quite unlike other sharks — that led Jacques Yves Cousteau to label them the most dangerous of all sharks. In my experience, they are curious but have never been aggressive. (The diver pictured is holding a PVC tube with which he will gently redirect the shark if it comes too close.)

Dr. Alexander Mustard

Authors rejoice in describing the varied objects found in the stomach of these sharks, once thought of as mindless eating machines. The message was, we know about these sharks only from cutting open dead ones. Today, divers have logged thousands of dives with them in the Bahamas, and their observations have demonstrated that these are intelligent, individual and often shy sharks. They have a maternal side too: Unborn young gain extra nutrition from milk secreted by their mother. Nevertheless, seeing the largest predator of the region up close is always enough to stop the heart and increase one’s breathing rate.

Dr. Alexander Mustard

A rare sight anywhere in the world, this species is one that most divers will never encounter. In the Bahamas, they can be found off Bimini. Here they move into shallow water to hunt stingrays and spotted eagle rays. Despite its great size — commonly growing to more than 15 feet — this is a very athletic species capable of impressive bursts of speed and tremendous maneuverability. I’ll never forget seeing one turn 180 degrees in less than half its body length.

Dr. Alexander Mustard

The most common species on shark dives in the Bahamas — on the right sites, encounters are guaranteed. Thanks to their pack mentality, diving with this species ensures there is always something going on, including frequent close passes from multiple sleek gray predators. But don’t take that pack for granted: One reason sharks do not make good fisheries is their slow reproduction. Pregnancy, even for a relatively small species like the Caribbean reef shark, lasts far longer than in humans.

Dr. Alexander Mustard