Deepsea Sharks

Welcome to CoralRealm's Deepsea Shark Exploration Unit. Here you will find information and photos of those elasmobranchs that lurk the dark abyss. First you might want to bone-up on the biology of deepsea sharks. You will find info on sharks that glow in the dark. There is also an article on why deepsea sharks don't weigh as much as their shallow water counterparts and how being weightless affects their body form and behavior. You might also want to review the shark families that are most commonly encountered in the deep ocean.

The CoralRealm DSV

After doing some general study on deepwater sharks, you will want to jump into our deepsea vehicle (DSV) and go searching for some of the elasmobranchs you've read about. You're likely to see species like the frill shark, cowsharks, lantern sharks, and even the illusive megamouth. Some of the species you'll encounter on your journey have never been photographed underwater before!

Click Here for a list of sharks you will see on your dive in the DSV.

The DSV will descend through the water column and move along the sea floor. When a shark species is encountered, it will appear in the view port. The onboard computer will search the system database and retrieve information about the species you are seeing. A link on the "LCD" screen can provide more information on the shark if you desire. The depth and water pressure will be presented at the top of the information screen. To begin your dive, click on the "down" arrow on the navigation control center. To ascend to a shallower depth, just click the "up" arrow. When you are ready to surface, click the hatch control lever on the far right.

Southeastern Australia: Dive Profile

The DSV is ready to take you on a shark hunt off the coast of southeastern Australia. It has been transported out into the open sea, 100 kilometers from the Australian coast. The dive will begin at the ocean's surface. You will then plunge through the epipelagic and mesopelagic zones until you reach the outer edge of the continental shelf. After hunting for sharks in this area, you will move over the edge of the shelf onto the continental slope. Then you will descend along the slope until you reach a maximum depth of 2,000 m (6,500 feet). At that point, you should begin your trip back to the surface. Enjoy your trip and be prepared to encounter some amazing sharks!

Enjoy your dive!

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Deepsea Shark Exploration Unit
(Exclusively for CoralRealm Members) Deepsea Sharks - Introduction Deepsea Definitions Deepsea Adaptations: Sharks that Glow Deepsea Adaptations: Form and Function Southeastern Australia Dive Adventure

Acknowledgements

We want to extend a huge thank you to Kelvin Aitken, the best shark photographer on the planet! All but one of the species presented in the DSV ride were taken off the Australian coast by Kelvin. The megamouth shot was taken by Tom Haight (Innerspace Visions) and the broadnose sixgill is a David B. Fleetham (Innerspace Visions) photo.