Have you always wondered how fast a shark can swim? We’ve been looking into this and we’ve found some quite interesting answers for you.
How fast can a shark swim? The fact is that some sharks can swim up to 25 miles per hour. The great white shark can, for example, can swim up to 35 miles per hour in short bursts. Impressively, they can swim up to 10 times faster than a human can.
We will look at how fast different species of shark can swim, such as the hammerhead shark, tiger shark, and others.
How Fast Can A Great White Shark Swim?
Impressively, a great white shark can swim up to 35 miles per hour. Without a doubt, this is the maximum speed they can swim in short bursts. They swim at 25 miles per hour ordinarily.
Great white sharks can swim so fast they often propel themselves out of the water. They do this when they’re hunting. They spot a seal, for example, and swim quickly to the surface. The sheer speed means the seal cannot get away. The shark bites the seal and moves away. This is so they are not injured by the seal. When the seal is dead the shark will eat it.
How Fast Can a Mako Shark Swim?
A mako shark can swim up to 60 miles per hour. They are torpedo-shaped. This makes them more streamlined. They can swim through the water much easier because of their body shape. Impressively, drag is minimized when they swim. The shark’s tail propels them through the water. Therefore, they are very fast swimmers.
How Fast Can a Blue Shark Swim?
60 miles per hour. They can also jump out the water. They are the fastest fish. Incredibly, some blue sharks usually swim around 22 miles per hour. When they’re hunting prey they swim up to 60 miles per hour.
Blue sharks are graceful swimmers. Their tapered body and long fin provides them with power. This means they can swim quite fast. Blue sharks also leap out the water when they’re hunting.
How Fast Can a Whale Shark Swim?
Up to 14 miles per hour. Whale sharks usually swim around 3 miles per hour. They don’t need to swim very fast as they open their mouths to catch their prey. They eat a lot of fish and swim at slow speeds so they can catch them.
Capable of swallowing up to 15,00 gallons of water an hour, whale sharks have this name as they can be as large as a whale.
How Fast Can a Tiger Shark Swim?
They can swim around 2.4 miles per hour. Impressively, they can swim in short bursts of up to 20 miles per hour. They swim faster when they are hunting. This ensures they are more likely to catch and kill their prey.
Can a Human Swim Faster Than a Shark?
No. Humans can swim no faster than approximately 6 miles per hour. Most humans swim a lot slower than 6 miles an hour. Even the best human swimmers in the world are unable to keep up with a shark.
Fastest Shark Speed
The fastest shark speed is around 60 miles per hour. Mako sharks can swim at this speed. They are torpedo-shaped. This makes them more streamlined. They can swim through the water much easier because of their body shape. Impressively, drag is minimized when they swim. The shark’s tail propels them through the water. Therefore, they are very fast swimmers.
What Swims Faster Than a Shark?
Dolphins can swim faster than sharks. They have more oxygen-efficient blood. They also have a 4-chambered heart. In addition to this, dolphins can breathe in more oxygen than sharks. Incredibly, this ensures they can swim very fast.
Sharks and dolphins are great swimmers. However, the fastest dolphin can swim 35 miles per hour very easily. Only the mako shark is faster than a dolphin. Mako sharks have bodies that are similar to dolphins. They have warm blood and a fin that helps them move through the water quickly.
How fast Can a Bull Shark Swim?
11.8 miles per hour at their top speed. However, they can only swim this fast for a short while. Bull sharks tend to swim this fast when they’re hunting. This is so they can catch up with and kill their prey.
Impressively, bull sharks can maintain a speed of 4.9 miles an hour all the time. This is faster than many other sharks.
Can Dolphins Swim Faster Than Sharks?
Yes. They have more oxygen-efficient blood. They also have a 4-chambered heart. In addition to this, dolphins can breathe in more oxygen than sharks. Incredibly, this ensures they can swim very fast.
Sharks and dolphins are great swimmers. However, the fastest dolphin can swim 35 miles per hour very easily. Only the mako shark is faster than a dolphin. Mako sharks have bodies that are similar to dolphins. They have warm blood and a fin that helps them move through the water quickly.
What Makes a Shark Swim Fast?
Scientists have discovered that shark’s tail moves from side to side. This happens when they’re swimming. Impressively, this creates more than twice as many jets or streams of water as other fishes do. A shark’s tail makes them much more efficient. It smooths out the thrust in the water.
Sharks stiffen their tail while it’s in mid-swing. This is what makes them much more efficient swimmers.
How Far Can Sharks Smell Blood?
Great white sharks can detect blood in 100 liters of water. Impressively, they can detect just one drop. In addition to this, they can sense blood from up to 3 miles away. This makes them more efficient hunters. A shark’s olfactory bulb is the organ responsible for their sense of smell.
What To Do If a Shark Swims Towards You
If a shark swims towards you do not make any sudden movements. Move slowly toward a boat or the shore. Don’t kick or splash while you’re swimming. Do not thrash your arms about.
Do not attempt to block the shark’s path. You are the one who needs to move out of the way. In addition to this, you should not turn you back on the shark while you’re moving away.
Should You Punch a Shark in the Nose?
No. Scientists recommend you punch a shark in the eye. If you cannot punch the eye claw at it instead. Alternatively, you can stick your hand in its gills can work. These areas are very sensitive and can cause the shark to let go of you.
If you need to punch a shark in the nose make sure your aim is good. The nose is close to the teeth and you could lose your hand. If the shark swims away there is always a danger it will return. This means you should move our of the water as soon as you can.
It’s unlikely that you will be attacked by a shark. Sharks often attack people because they have mistaken them for a seal.
If a shark swims towards you do not make any sudden movements. Move slowly toward a boat or the shore. Don’t kick or splash while you’re swimming. Do not thrash your arms about.
Do not attempt to block the shark’s path. You are the one who needs to move out of the way. In addition to this, you should not turn you back on the shark while you’re moving away.