Nurse Shark in Cozumel
Nurse Shark (*Ginglymostoma cirratum*) in Cozumel: how to identify it, where it is reliably seen, and what it is commonly confused with.
A broad brown shark with a blunt rounded head, two fleshy barbels hanging under the snout, and a long flexible tail. Almost always found lying still under a ledge.
Quick ID
| Scientific name | Ginglymostoma cirratum |
|---|---|
| Group | Sharks & Rays |
| Typical size | 150–280 cm |
| Depth range | 3–25 m |
| When to see it | Year-round |
| Active | Rests by day, hunts at night |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable |
| Notes | — |
Where You Will See It In Cozumel
Under overhangs and in swim-throughs at Palancar Caves, Santa Rosa Wall and Punta Tunich, often stacked with two or three animals in the same cave.
Reliable sites: Palancar Caves, Santa Rosa Wall, Punta Tunich.
Behaviour
A suction feeder that vacuums invertebrates out of crevices at night and sleeps through the day, unlike most sharks which must swim to breathe. Nurse sharks can pump water over their gills while stationary.
Commonly Confused With
- Caribbean reef shark — Reef sharks swim constantly in open water and have a pointed snout and no barbels.
- A large grouper in a cave — At a glance in low light the silhouette is similar; the barbels and the long tail settle it.
Diving Etiquette And Safety
The single most common shark-bite scenario in the Caribbean is a diver pulling a sleeping nurse shark's tail. Do not touch, do not block the cave exit, and give it a clear way out.
Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip
Photo: Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
