Introduction

The great white shark has long had a reputation as a fearsome 'man-eater' and is probably the most feared of all animals that live in the oceans. But there's no reason to fear the great wite shark any more than other carnivorous animals.  According to the International Shark Attack File there have been an average of just over 60 shark attacks per year worldwide over the last decade.

This huge predatory fish is certainly superbly adapted to its role as an ocean killer.

The great white shark is constantly on the move, swimming slowly and continously, beating its tail from side to side. It mostly patrols alone, offshore and is rarely found in the open ocean. It can cruise at a steady 3.5 km for days. In temperate seas the great white seems to migrate either northwards or southwards, depending on the hemisphere, as the sea warms in the summer. In winter, when the water is cooler, the shark migrates back again.