When I think of white sharks one of the first things I think of is surfing one day at San Onofre, California. My Wife and I went out for an early surfing session one Sunday morning and there was talk of a white shark in the lineup. We thought people were joking and went out surfing. Sitting in the lineup we heard other surfers talking about the fin and realized they weren’t joking. A juvenile white shark, roughly 10 feet long was swimming around.
Apparently a whale had washed ashore up the beach and a local municipal worker decided to bury it on the beach. Well, basically all of the fat and blood were washing into the ocean, creating a chum slick. We never did see the shark, but we saw the pictures in the paper the next day. They’re definitely out there.
This list comprises the 10 best great white documentaries I could locate out there. So, if you’re looking to get your great white fix, these are for you.
Zombie Sharks (2014)
Sharks have a unique characteristic by where they can be brought into a state of tonic immobility by turning them on their back. This documentary explores a series of Great White killings and possible reasons for this.
Rise of the Great White Shark (2017, Amazon Prime)
A decade in the making, Rise of the Great White Shark focuses on the evolution of the great white over millions of years and how it has adapted. The footage was filmed by “Shark Week” cameraman Andy Casagrande.
Saving Jaws (2019, Amazon Prime)
Saving Jaws follows Ocean Ramsey, dubbed “The Shark Whisperer,” and her team of marine biologists for a year as they conduct research and work on conservation efforts. This documentary is the result of Ocean’s efforts to bring others in close contact with the great white to get them to see sharks how she does.
Myths of the Great White Sharks (2008, Amazon Prime)
Let’s face it, after the movie Jaws, great whites got a pretty bad rap as cold blooded maneaters. Myths of the Great White Sharks follows marine biologist Ryan Johnson, who has been stydying white sharks in South Africa, rewriting common myths of this apex predator. Are they really man eaters?
Great White Shark: Beyond the Cage of Fear (2013, Amazon Prime)
Are white sharks mindless killers? Great White Shark: Beyond the Cage of Fear follows a group of scientists as they study “Bruce,” a white shark who forms a bond with those studying him.
Great White Shark Legend (2015, Amazon Prime)
This documentary is set in False Bay, South Africa, the place where white sharks jump out of the water following prey. This is the only place in the world where white sharks exhibit this behavior.
Great White Shark: Uncaged (2004)
This documentary is just how it sounds. It follows Andre Hartman and a team of researchers who try studying white sharks outside the confines of a shark cage. It takes place in Mexico, in one of the world’s most shark infested waters.
Sharks in the Mediterranean: On The Trail of Great White Sharks (1995, Tubi)
Did you know there are white sharks in the Mediterranean? This documentary reconstructs 18 fatal shark attacks in the Med through eye-witness accounts and research.
White Sharks: On the Edge (of Extinction?) (2004)
White Sharks: On the Edge is focused on the eco-tourism industry in Australia centered on the white shark. It covers the decline of white sharks, their need in the ecosystem as an apex predator, and their biology and ecology. It’s hard to find, but might be at your local library.
Shark Men (2010 – 2012 Amazon Prime, VUDU)
OK, this isn’t a documentary, but I had to include it in this list because it’s as good or better than any documentary on the list. Shark Men has three seasons and follows the captain and crew of the OCEAN as they tag and examine white sharks and other species. They came up with new ways to capture and tag white sharks and you can actually go on their website to track the sharks.