The shark is terrifying and fascinating, a strong hunter which took the oceans a billion years to conquer and which has been terrorizing human thoughts since the first moments people ever touched the sea. It is an embodiment of danger, strength, and animal desire, and along with the other blockbuster films Jaws, Deep Blue Sea, etc. it relied on our fears to explore the unknown really deep beneath the sea, meeting something very powerful, very dangerous, and not afraid of killing humanity.

However Shark Tattoo Design, not only do the sharks exist as a source of horror at sea. What is underneath this menacing look is a stronger meaning, of survival, perfection and mime control. Take a closer look at these animals and you will find much more than what you may think at first.

Sailors were a group of people who long cherished the shark in the form of tattoos, which provided them with rich history and strong symbolism. To these experienced mariners the shark tattoos did more than act as decoration; they acted as defensive amulets, in using the aid of god to ride safe through dangerous seas. The tattoos were also the markers of courage, and they proudly announced to the world that their owners were not afraid of death and the mysteries of the unseen depths.

Even more sacred is the position of the sharks in Hawaiian mythology. They are regarded as old deities, and it was believed that the dead relatives can transform themselves to sharks and help and guard their families even after them. The native Hawaiians called these guardian spirits Aumakua and they were revered and fed by the people there; occasionally, offerings were tossed to Great Whites along the coast, as the Hawaiians understood their deity in these super-sized animals. Ka-moho-ali i is one of the most popular shark gods in the Hawaiian mythology.

According to the beliefs of many aboriginal cultures, shark is considered the spiritual linkage between the sea and the land. Fijians in their mythology had a god who was the god of the sharks named Dakuwanga, who not only helped the fishermen in their expeditions but was also the consumer of the souls of those who drowned in the sea. There are Australian aboriginal myths and Hawaiian Island myths of mutating sharks and magical beings who exist freely in the realms across the worlds of existence as they relate symbols of both freedom and strength.

Sharks are also a depiction of a raving passion to live. They cannot stay still in the wild even during their rest, (which also makes them very close to the people who believe by the slogan: all or nothing) Individuals who have a shark personality enjoy life to the fullest and pursue their goals with enthusiasm and without relenting on them.

This is also the same spirit that can also be found in any successful business individual who just like the shark, they seem quite relaxed and composed yet they are in violent waters. They are regarded as intelligent, vigorous and unemotional, and nothing can make them lose their external drives inside. It is this severity of action that makes sharks and those of their characteristics strong, respected even feared.

Shark Tattoo Design Meanings for Men and Women

Fearlessness– It symbolizes lacking fear when threatened or challenged.

Original Power & Strength- A theme of raw untamable power and naive superiority.

Intelligence – The thinking evidence of strategy, quick instincts and action.

Aggression- the spirit of being assertive and willingness to struggle to survive or to excel.

Clarity & Perception- Sharks are actually well known in these traits because they have exceptional senses, which is why they represent keener senses and sharp focus.

Different Types of  Shark Tattoo Design Ideas

 Great White Shark

Great white shark is the proverbial sizeable white shark that has in it all of the characteristics that we usually attribute to the strength and mystery of sharks. They are very cerebral, ruthlessly efficient, violent when necessary and so large in size that they represent pure domination in the ocean.

Due to this fact, some of those individuals that perceive themselves as being leaders, alpha, or being on top of the food chain are attracted to great white shark tattoos. They are assertive, powerful and insecure statements of confidence and control as well as unflinching personality, one that provokes respect and can not be fought.

 Hammerhead Shark 

According to Hawaiian culture, the hammer head shark or mano kihikihi is highly regarded shark that is considered as protector spirit. It is believed that this rare shark protects its fellow swimmers and sailors by keeping off other bigger predators like the great white shark. The sighting of a hammerhead in the water is also assumed to be owing to the gods, the portent that forces of god are safeguarding you.

The children born under the sign of the hammerhead shark are believed to be natural warriors, the born bravados and loyal. Hammerhead shark tattoo is a symbol of this: a hammer-head shark is a sign of the person who will protect the ones around him with great devotion and a risk of his life, with force and power.

Also Read: Tattoos Style Explained: Complete Visual Guide

Tribal Shark

Having a tribal shark tattoo is not only a strong method of pursuing a spiritual connection with this awesome ocean predator but also a way of agreeing with the native cultural tradition where the design wants the working of origin. Tribal shark tattoos can be compared to signifying strong connection with the nature especially with the water element that is a symbol of intuition, emotion and the life itself.

Putting on this design implies that you take on board the might, the agility, and the naked instinct of the shark as well as the religious beliefs behind the people who considered it as a protector, their leader, and their symbol to abide by the might of the ocean.

Viking Shark

Vikings were famous sea travelers, known by their lack of fear, skills on the sea, and untiring adventures. Between the 8th and the 11th century, they raided and travelled across massive distances–the British Isles and coastal France, all the way inside the Arctic. Having small, swift vessels under their command, they also were explorers and traders, and warriors who ventured into open sea, and feared neither wind nor rain nor what was unknown. Lords of the ocean they actually were in a manner of speaking.

Despite the myths bestowed on Vikings by popular culture depicting them as horned-helmeted war marauders bristling with wild hair and drinking goblets made of skulls, the historical reality turns out to be a grittier but no less spiritual and full of symbolism. Viking warriors used to decorate themselves with tattoos, which have ancient Norse symbols taken out of mythologic, nature and runes. They were also displayed in their jewelry and weapons, ships and carvings used during rituals; its display portrays protection, power, and communion to gods.

A Viking shark tattoo is a combination of two strong imagery: the courage and stamina of the Viking persona and the speed, force and command of the shark. It represents the lightweight ethos of the sea, the boldness of adventure and survival as primal as it gets that together provide a captivating dedication to history and individual lust.

Shark Skeleton 

The tattoo of this kind of a shark focuses on violence, blood and gut instincts. The shark in this design is the most feared predator at sea and is a symbol of a fierce fighter, a person who never quits, even when he/she is bruised, battered and broken. It echoes the thought that despite the number of misfortunes in your life, you are here, still standing (maybe scarred) but not broken. It is a strong statement of surviving, boldness, and unwillingness to be overcome.

Tiger Shark 

The tiger shark is no longer or as physically imposing than the great white, but it is adored by its speed, flexibility, and polished power. Individuals attracted by speed, fast reflexes and stealthiness will most of the time be connected with the spirit of tiger shark and hence such animal can make a good tattoo with the idea of swiftness, accuracy and silent power.

Perhaps the greatest of the qualities of the tiger shark is its mouth that seems to be indestructible-it is lined with razor sharp teeth that are continuously regenerated and make the shark never without weapons. They are its best weapon enabling it to be fearless and relentless when it comes to prey. The tiger shark is considered one of the three most powerful sharks with a highly diversified diet as he can eat up fish and squid as well as crustaceans and other sea animals. It symbolizes not only strength, but also master of all trades, and survival, which are the properties of any person who excels in environments that keep changing all the time.

A tiger shark tattoo is, thus not only the representation of physical power but also represents strength, swiftness, and survivability.

Conclusion

Shark tattoos provide daring mix of meaning, fashion, and narration. Be it a simple sketch of a white outline or a very realistic view of the ocean, these designs are the embodiments of power, fearlessness, and survival.

Overall, between the traditional and the current, the ferocious and the artistic, there is the shark tattoo to suit any personality and the style. Pick the pattern that speaks to your soul, and allow it to remind you about strength within you and how deep your soul really is.