shark
Silvertip shark.
Carcharhinus albimarginatus · also: Silvertip whaler
A large, robust requiem shark with brilliant white-edged fins and a bold, confident manner around offshore reefs and seamounts. Bigger and more assertive than the grey reef shark it resembles, it tends to dominate other sharks at a site. Its gleaming fin margins make it one of the most striking sharks in blue water.
Size
~2.5–3.0 m
Weight
Up to ~160 kg.
Diet
Mid-water and bottom bony fishes, plus rays, smaller sharks and cephalopods.
Lifespan
Not firmly established; likely ~20–25+ years.
Depth
Surface to ~800 m; offshore reefs, banks and island slopes.
Reproduction
Live-bearing; ~1–11 pups (avg 5–6), roughly biennial.
Snorkel or dive
Dive — advanced
Best season
Year-round (current-dependent)
Conservation
Vulnerable
How to recognise it
Robust grey body with distinct white/silver margins on all fins; larger than a grey reef.
Behaviour
Bold and dominant; patrols outer-reef drop-offs, pinnacles and current-swept seamounts.
Where to see it in the Maldives
Outer-reef pinnacles and channels in the south — Huvadhoo and Fuvahmulah.
Conservation
Vulnerable — targeted and bycatch fisheries, finning; site fidelity makes it easy to deplete.
IUCN · Vulnerable
Watch them responsibly
Stay aware and keep distance (it can be bold); avoid spearfishing scenarios and never feed.
Often the boldest shark on a reef, known to approach divers head-on before veering away.
Often bears small bite scars from scuffles — it's notably aggressive toward other silvertips at feeding sites.
Collective noun: a shiver of sharks
Want to dive with silvertip shark?
Our Maldives specialists match you to the right atoll, season and resort.
Sightings are typical, not guaranteed — encounters vary with season and conditions.