Whitetip Reef Shark

Photo: Laura Sofía Arbeláez Arias · © all rights reserved

Whitetip reef sharks are the dominant predator at La Moneda, present year-round in groups of 5 to 15 individuals resting on sand patches beneath overhangs during the day. At dusk these sharks become active hunters, working through the reef's crevices in coordinated pursuit of sleeping fish and octopus — a behaviour that attracts night divers to the site. Their high site fidelity means the same individuals can be recognised and tracked across multiple dives.