7 Epic Locations Where You Can Swim with Sharks

Visitors to French Polynesia will get unparalleled access to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. And there, they’ll likely come face-to-face with a black tip reef shark or two.

These smaller, more docile and shy sharks are all around the islands as they typically enjoy swimming in more shallow waters. They also happen to love snacking on tasty morsels like sea snakes, crustaceans, and small bony fish, which makes the coral reefs around Bora Bora a perfect home.

There, you can experience their habitat too with Conrad Bora Bora Nui, French Polynesia’s Lagoon Safari Snorkeling Experience. By taking part, visitors will view sharks and stingrays as they snorkel and dive underwater in the crystal clear seas surrounding the property, The half-day tour takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes and runs for $103. A full-day tour, which lasts for 6 hours, runs at $150.

Swimming with sharks in Cabo isn’t for the faint of heart as the sharks living in the region can measure up to 40 feet in length. But, truly, there’s no reason to fear them as the Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection experience is actually a dive with whale sharks.

On the tour, which is available from August to May, guests will take part in an eight-hour expedition off the coast of La Paz to swim with the whale sharks, which feed exclusively on microscopic plankton and pose no threat to humans.

Throughout the day, an expert guide will show guests around popular feeding grounds to watch the sharks in their natural habitat. At each spot, guests will have the opportunity to jump in and swim alongside these gentle giants. The cost, which is available upon request, includes roundtrip transportation, meals, wetsuit and snorkel equipment as well as underwater photography and videography upon request.

Traveling to Fiji is like moving to an entirely different planet, where you’ll be surrounded by endless natural beauty. And visitors there can take full advantage of that by going cageless shark diving in the Beqa Lagoon at the Auberge Resorts Collection in Nanuku.

 Just off the coast of the 10-acre island sits the clear, warm and protected waters that are home to some magnificent wildlife. And really, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as Fiji is known as the Soft Coral Capital of the World.

Guests of the resort can explore and learn more about the undersea gardens and go cageless diving where they may encounter reef sharks, nurse sharks, lemon sharks, bull sharks and tiger sharks during an hour-long session. The cost to go on the adventure is $200.

Sure, there are plenty of reasons to head to Hawaii for vacation, but perhaps one of the best reasons of all is to go cage diving with some of the world’s biggest predators.

With Turtle Bay Resort’s Shark Experience guests can take part in an epic cage dive located right in the heart of the shark’s natural North Shore habitat. And, you’re guaranteed to see sharks along the way as they are plentiful in the area.

Moreover, guests will not only see sharks but may also come face-to-face with dolphins, Hawaiian green sea turtles, and a humpback whale or two. Adult cage dives (ages 13+) cost $96. Kids can get in the action too $60.

Located just steps from the beach in Gansbaai, South Africa sits the most appropriately named hotel for those looking for a shark-filled trip: The White Shark Guest House.

At the guest house, visitors will not only sleep in a four-star luxury hotel, but they can also take part in its many shark diving trips.

Each day, the hotel takes guests on boat trips launching from Kleinbaai's natural harbor through an area called “shark alley” located between the shore and Dyer Island and Geyser Rock, which is home to a colony of more than 50,000 Cape fur seals (AKA, natural shark bait).

In total, the excursion takes between three to four hours from dock-to-dive and back again. All ages and skill levels are welcome, with no scuba experience necessary. And, you may not even have to get in the water to see the sharks. As the hotel explained, “Great Whites Sharks are surface feeders, and thus all activity takes place on or very close to the surface.” But, we seriously suggest at least dipping a toe in the water, even if it’s to feel that adventurous rush and to say you were in the water next to a great white.

Australia’s East Coast is a more than fitting place to meet a few new ocean-dwelling friends, including some seriously large sharks. But, because of the vast expanse of the area, it’s crucial to travel the region with a tour company. And there is perhaps no better company to go with than Topdeck.

In Australia, the company will take you along its Tropical Adventure tour, which brings travelers on a 10-day trek from Brisbane to Cairns. During the journey, guests will visit UNESCO World Heritage sites, sip on locally distilled drinks, tour farms, check out local markets and, of course, go snorkeling in Australia’s famed waters, where they may catch a glimpse of reef sharks, turtles and more. The trip, which includes most meals and accommodations, costs $1989 per person.

Compass Cay, located in the Exumas, Bahamas, is an exclusive private island resort that is perfect for travelers looking for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation.

On the island, guests can choose to rent an island villa, or the entire island itself. Either way, visitors are also welcome to sail from the resort over to the marina and swim with nurse sharks that measure up to 14 feet. And sure, that may sound like a big predator to come in contact with, but nurse sharks are typically extraordinarily docile and harmless to humans.

Weekly rates for Compass Cay villas vary, but start around $2,900 a week and really, what’s the true cost of an adventure like this?