How Are Megalodon Teeth Found? Diving for Fossils
The mighty megs may have gone extinct roughly 4 million years ago, but humans are still finding their giant-sized teeth all over the world.
These massive prehistoric sharks roamed the seas for a few million years, depositing their teeth onto the ocean bed. Now, megalodon teeth fossils have become a prized collectible.
But how exactly are these awe-inspiring shark tooth fossils found? Sometimes they’re found by accident. More commonly, divers hunt for them on the ocean floor.
Are you wondering how to find a megalodon tooth?
Keep reading to discover how megalodon tooth hunters collect these incredible fossils.
Most Megalodon Teeth Are Found in Marine Coastal Deposits
Scientists believe that megalodons lived in most of the world’s oceans, except for the waters near the poles. Fossil records show that megalodons existed for at least 16 million years, if not longer.
During this time, these monster-sized sharks left behind a lot of teeth. Megalodons had an average of 276 teeth in their jaws. Just like the great white shark, and other shark species, Megalodons also continually regenerated teeth.
It’s estimated that shark teeth can regenerate up to 50 times.
Thanks to this incredible capability, the world still contains a surprising number of megalodon tooth fossils.
Most megalodon tooth fossils are found in marine coastal deposits, such as large, shallow bays. There are some places in the world where divers find megalodon teeth in estuaries and rivers as well.
It’s also very likely that there are megalodon teeth fossils in deep-sea ocean bed deposits that divers can’t reach.
Location Is Key if You Want to Find a Megalodon Tooth
If you want to hunt for megalodon teeth fossils, your best bet is to dive in coastal areas that are known for having meg teeth. People have also found megalodon teeth on beaches and shores, but the chances of stumbling on one are relatively slim—unless you’re lucky enough to see a big megalodon tooth poking out of the sand.
Although megs existed all over the oceans, not every area will yield their teeth. One of the reasons for this is that some coastline areas have changed dramatically since the they were around, burying any megalodon teeth that were there deep underground.
Some areas in the US that are famous for megalodon teeth deposits include:
- Peace River, Florida
- Venice Beach, Florida
- Maryland’s Calvert Cliffs State Park
- Aurora, North Carolina
- South Carolina Blackwater Rivers
Location is also key on a micro-level. Once you have found a real megalodon tooth, there’s a chance that there might be more right in the immediate area. After finding a tooth, experienced divers will comb the vicinity thoroughly before moving on.
Divers Have to Battle Varying Visibility
Some areas that are famous for megalodon tooth fossils, such as Venice Beach, have crystal clear water and great visibility for diving. This makes finding fossils a whole lot easier.
Other areas are a lot more challenging for divers. For instance, the South Carolina Blackwater Rivers have some of the worst visibility for diving.
In poor visibility or deeper water, divers have to use powerful underwater flashlights to scour the ocean bed.
Do You Want to Own an Authentic Megalodon Tooth?
Finding a Megalodon tooth out in the wild isn’t hard as some people think, but it can take a lot of time and effort. Some divers go years without ever finding a tooth.
Do you want to own a big megalodon tooth without having to spend time and money diving megalodon tooth sites?
If the answer is yes, you’ve come to the right place! Here at The Fossil Exchange, we carry a variety of genuine shark tooth fossils, including authentic megalodon teeth.
Every megalodon tooth for sale on our site is 100% authentic and has been personally recovered by our divers. Browse our megalodon teeth listings today!
