Tiger Shark
A predator Backshall has dived with outside the cage.
The tiger shark is a large predator that Steve Backshall has encountered directly. He dived outside of a cage with tiger sharks, among other species, during the filming of his "Deadly" programmes. These programmes were transmitted on Nat Geo Wild, Animal Planet and BBC to 157 countries worldwide. In 2019, Backshall presented a four-part series, *Blue Planet Live*, on BBC One, where he was seen diving live with tiger sharks from the shark sanctuary of Bimini. The tiger shark is one of the animals Backshall has sought out as part of his search for predators that are "Not just deadly to me, but deadly in their own world."
- Scientific Name
- Galeocerdo cuvier
- Maximum Length
- Approximately 5.5 meters (18 feet)
- Dietary Classification
- Omnivorous Apex Predator
- Conservation Status
- Near Threatened
Lore & Background
Steve Backshall has a history of close encounters with tiger sharks. During his "Deadly" series, he dived outside of the cage with tiger sharks, alongside great white, bull, great hammerhead and mako sharks. This was part of his mission to find predators that were deadly in their own world. Later, in March 2019, Backshall presented *Blue Planet Live* on BBC One, where he was seen diving live with tiger sharks from the shark sanctuary of Bimini. These experiences highlight the tiger shark as a species Backshall has actively sought out and filmed in its natural habitat.
In Their Own Story
In the waters of Bimini, Steve Backshall prepared for a live dive as part of the BBC's *Blue Planet Live* series in March 2019. The tiger sharks of the shark sanctuary were the focus, and Backshall entered the water without a cage, relying on his experience and the sharks' behavior. He had previously dived outside the cage with tiger sharks during his "Deadly" series, where he sought predators that were deadly in their own world. The live broadcast captured the moment as Backshall swam alongside these powerful animals, demonstrating his commitment to bringing viewers face-to-face with the ocean's apex predators.
Reader's Guide
Steve Backshall has encountered tiger sharks in the wild on multiple occasions. During his "Deadly" series, he dived outside of the cage with tiger sharks, as part of his search for predators that were "Not just deadly to me, but deadly in their own world." This series was transmitted on Nat Geo Wild, Animal Planet and BBC to 157 countries worldwide. In 2019, Backshall presented *Blue Planet Live* on BBC One, where he was seen diving live with tiger sharks from the shark sanctuary of Bimini. These encounters show that tiger sharks are a species Backshall has actively sought out and filmed in their natural environment.
Did You Know?
- Steve Backshall dived outside of a cage with tiger sharks during his 'Deadly' series.
- Backshall dived live with tiger sharks from the shark sanctuary of Bimini for the 2019 BBC series *Blue Planet Live*.
- The 'Deadly' programmes featuring tiger sharks were transmitted to 157 countries worldwide.
- Backshall sought tiger sharks as part of his search for predators that were 'Not just deadly to me, but deadly in their own world.'
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