Scalloped hammerhead diving: where and when
Schools by day at seamounts and islands to be cleaned, then forages alone offshore at night up to 20+ km away, moving 1,000+ km seasonally along the Cocos–Galapagos–Malpelo corridor. 8 known encounter sites across 8 countries: Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico, South Africa and Egypt and others. Best single site: Darwin & Wolf Islands, Galapagos, Ecuador — very high reliability, peak jun-nov. Minimum certification across sites varies; the easiest access points need only no certification, the deepest need Experienced.
- Sites
- 8
- IUCN status
- Critically Endangered
- Min. certification
- Experienced
- Typical depth
- 15–40 m
8 countries
Every known scalloped hammerhead site
Very high reliability
Darwin & Wolf Islands, Galapagos
Ecuador
Peak Jun-Nov · 15-30 m
Needs: Experienced
High reliability
Cocos Island (Dirty Rock / Alcyone)
Costa Rica
Peak Jun-Nov · 20-35 m
Needs: Experienced
High reliability
Malpelo Island
Colombia
Peak Dec-Apr · 20-40 m
Needs: Experienced
High reliability
Roca Partida & Socorro (Revillagigedo)
Mexico
Peak Nov-May · 20-35 m
Needs: Experienced
Moderate reliability
Protea Banks (Shelly Beach)
South Africa
Peak Jun-Nov · 25-40 m
Needs: Experienced
Moderate reliability
Daedalus Reef (Red Sea)
Egypt
Peak Jun-Sep · 20-40 m
Needs: Experienced
Moderate reliability
Rasdhoo Madivaru (Hammerhead Point)
Maldives
Peak Jan-Apr · 25-40 m
Needs: Experienced
Moderate reliability
Rangiroa: Tiputa Pass
French Polynesia
Peak Jan-Apr · 20-40 m
Needs: Experienced
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