It’s shark month and each week through July exploring the wonderful world of one the ocean’s giants.
These creatures have fascinated and frightened in equal measure for centuries and continue to hold a special place in the hearts and minds of mankind. This is evidenced by the continued popularity of television series like the Discovery Channel’s annual Shark Week and National Geographic’s SharkFest.
So, where to start? Great white? Oceanic? Whale? Nurse?
No, all too obvious. We’re starting with the wobbegong!
Yes, it is a shark and, no, it doesn’t look like one.
Often referred to as the carpet shark due to their intricate, mottled patterns that resemble a carpet, wobbegongs are masters of camouflage.
It means if you’re lucky enough to dive with them, you’ve still got to keep your eyes peeled to see them.
But, if you want to give yourself a great chance of swimming with these incredible creatures, there are few better places in the world than our Indonesian itineraries.
Primarily found in the Indo-Pacific area, places like Australia and Papua New Guinea are good places to grab a view.
However, diving from our Indonesia liveaboards Emperor Harmoni and Emperor Raja Laut will take you right into the heart of really good wobbegong territory.
Our wonderful boats make regular trips around the Komodo National Park and Raja Ampat regions which are known to be great spotting areas for these interesting animals.
Wobbegongs belong to the family Orectolobidae, which includes 12 species. They can grow up to 10 feet long, though most species average around four to five feet. Their broad, flattened bodies are adorned with complex, lace-like patterns in shades of brown, yellow, and green, which help them hide among rocks, coral, and sandy seabeds.
One of the most remarkable features of the wobbegong is its distinctive fringed beard-like structures around its mouth. These barbels, along with flaps of skin that extend from their heads, aid in their camouflage and sensory detection of prey
They are ambush predators, lying in wait for unsuspecting fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods to venture close enough for a swift and powerful attack.
Despite their formidable appearance and effective hunting strategy, wobbegongs are generally not dangerous to humans. However, if provoked or accidentally stepped on, they can deliver a painful bite, given their strong jaws and sharp teeth.
Having found and adapted well to their native environment they are, as with so much of nature, not immune to the threats faced by many marine species today. Habitat destruction, pollution, and overfishing pose significant risks to their population with some species now considered vulnerable.
But, in the beautiful waters that surround Indonesia – the world’s largest archipelagic state – the wobbegong still thrive and remain an intriguing and much-loved spectacle for divers.
Find out more about our Best of Raja Ampat and Komodo National Park itineraries and get in touch with our reservations team to secure your own personal wobbegong experience