The Shark Trust Great Shark Snapshot is back! Make Every Dive Count in 2026
The Shark Trust Great Shark Snapshot is back! For its 5th year. And the Shark Trust are asking you to Make Every Dive Count!
July will see the return of the Shark Trust’s citizen science initiative: The Great Shark Snapshot. It encourages divers and snorkellers, all around the world, to record the sharks and rays that they see during a 1-week period each year. This year it takes place between the 18th and 26th July. And the Shark Trust are asking you to dive in!
The event is back for its 5th year, and it is happening in “Shark Month”, more commonly known as July! To coincide with a series of events that celebrate all things shark and ray (watch out for plenty more news from the Shark Trust throughout July).
Divers, clubs, centres, charter boats and liveaboards are all encouraged to show their support by organising diving or snorkeling trips throughout the week. And then getting together to tell the Shark Trust what they found. As well as gathering vital data, the event will provide a chance to celebrate the incredible shark and ray species that live in our ocean.
Information about the species and numbers of sharks and rays the participants find over the week will be added to the Shark Trust’s Shark Log. This global shark census will, over time, allow shark scientists to build a picture of species distribution and any changes that occur.
Caroline Robertson-Brown, Marketing Manager at the Shark Trust said “It is great to see so many divers, clubs and organisations taking part this year. We want to make 2026 our biggest Great Shark Snapshot year yet. Making Every Dive Count. I cannot wait to see the species divers and snorkelers find and the locations where people are diving with these incredible animals. Anyone can take part. Anywhere in the world. It is easy to join in and feel part of something big. I’ll be diving in Porthkerris in Cornwall!”
What do you have to do?
Just go diving or snorkeling between 18th and 26th July and record every shark, ray, skate or eggcase that you and your dive group see. If possible, take photos or some video footage too. Then make sure that you record your sightings on the Shark Trust Shark Log recordings website or by using the Shark Trust app. Last year over 450 divers took part, in 13 different countries. And there were over 1000 sharks and rays recorded. Can you make 2026 be even better?
The Shark Trust digital guide, that has all the information you need in one place, can be downloaded from their website.
The Great Shark Snapshot is a way for divers to get together, go diving, and do something to help shark conservation. Why not dive in?
Find out more here: www.sharktrust.org/snapshot
