From pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters to colorful marine life, Crete is considered the largest of the Greek islands. As with any other popular tourist destination close to the sea, the question begs itself: Are there sharks in Crete? For most, the very mention of sharks conjures images of dreadful predators, but in reality, it is far less cause for alarm than one might imagine with regard to sharks in Cretan waters.
Sharks in the Mediterranean Sea
Before telling about the specific case of Crete, one has to understand something about sharks in the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean is home to several species of sharks, though it is not known for frequent shark attacks or aggressive behavior. Some of the more common species include:
Blue Sharks: Sleek, swift sharks, the blue sharks represent one of the more common species found in the Mediterranean. They are generally deep-water sharks well offshore and pose little threat to humans.
Shortfin Mako Sharks: A speedy shark, the shortfin mako is more common in deeper waters. Like other shark species, they are seldom seen inshore and are not generally a concern for swimmers.
Thresher Sharks (Alopias vulpinus): Thresher sharks are one of the deep-sea species. Since it has a very long tail, it normally kills its prey with it. This can be seen in the Mediterranean, but never near the coast.
Great White Sharks (Carcharodon carcharias): Great whites have also been documented in the Mediterranean, though these are exceptionally rare to see and are not normally around Crete or inshore near areas that tourists would be prone to frequent.
There are so many different species of sharks within the Mediterranean; however, there are actually very few encounters with humans because of their preference for deep, open water, very far from any coast.
Sharks in Crete’s Waters
Crete is situated in the southernmost part of the Aegean Sea, a larger constituent of the Mediterranean waters. Consequently, it should not surprise that species of sharks do show up at times in waters around Crete. This does not at all point towards one being likely to encounter one while swimming or diving in the waters of Crete, however.
Shark Sightings in Crete
With years, there have been very few confirmed shark sightings in Crete, and the vast majority of such sightings involve species not dangerous to humans. Examples include:
Blue Sharks, which, from time to time, may appear in deeper waters far from beaches frequented by swimmers, either by fishermen or divers. Blue Sharks are not known, aggressive sharks, and therefore do not represent any threat because they tend to avoid human contact.
The Basking Shark, Cetorhinus maximus, is the second-largest shark species in the world and has turned up from time to time in the Mediterranean, including off Crete. These giants of the sea are filter feeders, feeding totally on plankton and harmless to humans.
Dogfish are occasionally caught by local fishermen and are a small species of shark. Common in Mediterranean waters, they are quite harmless and seldom seen by swimmers.
Nevertheless, despite these sharks, no shark attack has ever been recorded throughout Crete’s modern history. Sharks around Crete are either far offshore or deeper down, quite far from people who either swim or snorkel.
Why Shark Attacks Hardly Occur in Crete
Some reasons why shark attacks and sightings are uncommon in Crete:
Warm water temperature: In general, the Aegean Sea waters off Crete are relatively warm, especially during summer. Most shark species still remain in cold and deep waters, avoiding proximity to coasts like those of Crete.
Busy coastlines: There are quite busy coastlines, mostly during the tourist season. Sharks avoid areas with big boat traffic, swimmers, and noise, further reducing any possibility of encounters.
Food Availability: Sharks feed primarily on fish and marine mammals. Although the waters surrounding Crete abound with marine life, the waters offshore where their depths are much greater are richer and more conducive to being a food supply for sharks, thereby drawing them away from shallow coastal waters where people swim.
Unfortunately, many shark species around Crete and in the Mediterranean have suffered from population decline due to overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction. While this is a huge conservation issue, it does mean there are fewer sharks overall in these waters, minimizing an encounter with a shark.
Swimming and Snorkeling Safety in Crete
For those who are going to visit Crete and wonder if the sea is safe to swim or snorkel in, there is little to be worried about when talking about sharks. The beaches in the island are safe, and no records of any kind of really dangerous shark activity have been reported.
But, as with all seas, it is always good to follow simple rules for safe bathing:
Stick to the designated swimming areas; since the main beaches have lifeguards, sticking to those areas implies that you are swimming in safe zones with clear visibility.
Be gentle with the marine life: You need not worry about the sharks, although there may be other marine creatures like the jellyfish, which appear from time to time, but generally are harmless.
Avoid swimming at dawn or dusk: Although said for just about every other location where sharks are more common, this is a pretty good rule to follow when in Crete as well. Most sea animals are far more active during these times, and it’s best not to draw any kind of unwanted attention to yourself.
Conclusion
While catching a shark might sound daunting, the waters off Crete are actually very safe both for swimmers and snorkelers. The sharks that exist in the Mediterranean do so well off the coasts-even around Crete-and are therefore not seen as any particular threat to humans. Most reports are highly infrequent and involve non-threatening species, such as the blue shark or basking shark.
For tourists traveling to Crete, the island offers absolutely great aquatic activities: snorkeling in transparent waters or exploring the undersea world teeming with color. So rest assured: your chances of encountering a dangerous shark are extremely low, and you will thus be able to thoroughly enjoy Crete’s coastline in complete safety.
