Blacktip Reef Shark

Photo: Phil Benstead · CC BY-NC

Blacktip reef sharks patrol the open sandy areas surrounding the Manko Maru, using the wreck's silhouette as a landmark in their territorial range across the harbour shallows. They are typically seen as individuals or pairs, moving in wide arcs around the site before returning to deeper water. Their presence reflects the overall health of the local reef ecosystem and the harbour's recovering fish populations.