Sharks
Great white sharks are present in the waters off of Cape Cod.
“You're Going to Need a Bigger Boat”
I was born the same year Steven Spielberg’s JAWS came out. Although I never saw it in theaters, it quickly captivated my imagination as a youth. Now in my late 40s, JAWS remains my favorite movie, and I’ve gleefully subjected my kids to it on more than one occasion.
It brings me immense joy to have learned some time ago that great white sharks – made infamous in JAWS – are found in the waters around Cape Cod. The movie was actually filmed here!
Did you Know?
- JAWS was filmed on Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Cape Cod.
- If you’re superfan of the film, there are multiple filming locations you can visit on the island.
- The mechanical shark used in the filming was nicknamed Bruce after Spielberg’s lawyer. Here are 10 other facts about Bruce.
- While on the Cape, you can charter a sight-seeing expedition to view local great white sharks in their natural environment.
Sharks on Cape Cod
For a shark enthusiast like myself, there’s no better place in America to learn about – and potentially get close to – great white sharks than Cape Cod. Families can take advantage of the AWSC’s two excellent Shark Centers for truly awesome (and educational) shark content. Or, if you have a higher budget, you can charter a boat and venture out on the water for a shark sightseeing expedition.
In partnership with Best of Cape Cod, I recently wrote three articles on sharks and the Cape. Please enjoy!
Best of Cape Cod Articles
We generally stay around the Lower Cape during our visits, bouncing between Orleans and Chatham. I can’t remember exactly when I first noticed the Atlantic White Shark Conservatory Center on Route 28 in Chatham, but I was probably even more giddy to visit it than our kids were.
A now familiar purple “Shark Warning” flag greets you as you walk from the parking lot and cross the dunes to get down to the water at Nauset Beach in Orleans. It’s a good reminder that we are but guests to the ocean, and its storied apex predator can be found in these waters. On a bright and sunny summer day in 2022, we were finally paid a visit.
Following my not-so-close encounter with an (unseen) great white shark at Nauset Beach, I started looking into companies offering “Cape Cod Shark Tours” to hopefully see one up close and in-person. For all I know, that boat and plane I saw that day at the beach was one such charter.
Plan an Exciting Vacation in the Heart of Cape Cod Today!
The Cape is home to great white sharks, but you shouldn’t be afraid of the water. You can learn all about these animals at the two very family-friendly AWSC Shark Centers. You can also charter a sight-seeing expedition of your own if you want to get up close and personal.
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