The great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, is a recognizable and powerful apex predator. Its impressive size fuels widespread fascination. Understanding where the largest of these sharks are found provides insight into their biology and the environmental conditions that support such immense growth.
Global Habitats of Great White Sharks
Great white sharks are widely distributed across the world’s oceans, thriving in temperate and subtropical coastal and offshore waters. They typically prefer water temperatures ranging between 12 and 24 degrees Celsius (54 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit). Their range extends across major oceans, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian, with notable concentrations found off the coasts of the United States, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Chile, and within the Mediterranean Sea. These areas often feature abundant prey, which is a primary factor influencing their presence.
Prime Locations for Large Individuals
Certain geographic regions consistently host large great white sharks, often due to the availability of high-calorie prey. Guadalupe Island, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, is a hotspot, attracting numerous large individuals. This volcanic island benefits from the cold, nutrient-rich California Current, which supports a diverse marine ecosystem, including large populations of Guadalupe fur seals and northern elephant seals.
The waters off South Africa, particularly around Gansbaai and False Bay, are another aggregation site. Here, large great whites are frequently observed hunting Cape fur seals, sometimes exhibiting spectacular breaching behavior as they ambush their prey. Similarly, the coastal waters of South Australia, including the Neptune Islands, support significant populations of large sharks, with a 6.0-meter (19.7-foot) specimen reliably measured off Ledge Point in Western Australia in 1987.
Along the Pacific coast of the United States, areas such as the Farallon Islands and Año Nuevo State Park in California also attract large great whites due to the presence of elephant seals and sea lions. Southern California is recognized as a nursery ground for juvenile sharks, which eventually move to colder, prey-rich waters as they mature. Additionally, sightings of large individuals have occurred in Hawaiian waters, indicating broader migratory patterns. On the U.S. East Coast, populations are increasing, particularly around Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with growing seal populations.
Factors Influencing Their Size
Several biological and ecological factors contribute to why some great white sharks attain immense sizes. Great whites are long-lived, with lifespans estimated to be 70 years or more, and they continue to grow throughout their lives. This extended lifespan allows them to reach impressive dimensions over decades. Females generally grow larger than males, with mature females often reaching lengths up to 6.1 meters (20 feet), while males typically top out between 3.4 to 4.0 meters (11 to 13 feet). This size difference in females is believed to be linked to the evolutionary demands of reproduction.
Their diet also plays a significant role. As great white sharks mature, their diet shifts from primarily fish and smaller prey to larger, calorie-rich marine mammals such as seals and sea lions. Consistent availability of abundant, high-fat prey in certain regions provides energy for their substantial growth. Water temperature can also influence metabolism and growth rates, with warmer waters potentially supporting more rapid development, though they thrive within a specific temperate range.
Documented Giants and Their Sightings
Specific, well-documented examples illustrate the impressive size some great white sharks can achieve and confirm the locations where these giants are sighted. “Deep Blue,” an exceptionally large female great white shark, is estimated to be approximately 6.1 meters (20 feet) long and weigh around 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds). She was first documented at Guadalupe Island, Mexico, in 1999 and gained widespread recognition from footage captured there in 2013. “Deep Blue” was also sighted in 2019 off the coast of Hawaii, scavenging a sperm whale carcass, further highlighting the extensive migratory capabilities of these large sharks.
Other notable specimens include a 6.0-meter (19.7-foot) shark reliably measured off Ledge Point, Western Australia, in 1987, and a 6.1-meter (20-foot) female confirmed off Prince Edward Island, Canada, in 1988. More recently, “Contender,” a male great white shark measuring nearly 4.3 meters (14 feet) and weighing about 749 kilograms (1,653 pounds), was tagged off the U.S. East Coast in 2025 by the research group OCEARCH, marking him as the largest male recorded by them in the Atlantic. These documented individuals often reinforce the observation that the largest great white sharks are typically mature females.