The Mediterranean houses a number of large fish species that may attack swimmers. These species however are generally found in deep waters and encounters with swimmers are very rare. While a number of relatively large sharks have been captured from Maltese Waters [e.g. 1987: Great White Shark Charcharodon carcharias off Filfla; 2003: Six-gilled Shark Hexanchus griseus off Filfla; 2005 Short-fin Moka Shark Isurus oxyrinchus 30 miles off Malta]; there has only been one documented shark attack in 1956 at St. Thomas Bay. Another "Marine Monster" attack was recorded on Maltese fishermen in 1890 with two deaths. Both episodes have been attributed to Great White attacks.

Other potentially man-eating shark species have been recorded in Maltese waters and the Mediterranean: e.g. Hammerhead shark Sphyrna zygaena; Blue Shark Prionace glauca; Thresher Shark Alopias vulpinus; Porbeagle Lamna nasus; Sand shark Odontaspis taurus; Seven-gilled shark Hexachus cinereus]. Shoals of barracuda Sphyraena sphyraena is also occasionally encountered in Maltese waters. When large in numbers they have been known to attack swimmers.

Lamna nasus	Carcharodon carcharias
Hexanchus griseus	Sphyrna zygaena

Sphyraena sphyraena