If you’re interested in marine biology or just want to pass the time, I have a great app for you.

Global Shark Tracker by Ocearch.org tracks sharks all around the world. Available on Android and iOS for free, Global Shark Tracker allows an audience of all ages to explore the routes sharks take in real time.

A satellite tracker is attached to a shark. When the shark rises to the surface, signals called “pings” appear on the shark’s path on the in-app map. There are many sharks of different species, genders, and ages participating in this project. All of the tagged sharks are named and have information on them in their files which are easily visible in the app when you tap a shark’s ping or name. My personal favorite shark is Katharine, a young, female, great white shark who travels back and forth between Massachusetts and around Florida to Louisiana. In addition to just tracking sharks, Global Shark Tracker is also a movement for raising awareness of the danger sharks are in as their population is decreasing due to hunting.

This app is so easy to navigate that even I wasn’t confused during my first experience with it. The app does occasionally lag because it’s frequently updating the shark paths, but I haven’t found it to be a problem. If you don’t want the app but would like to  see what it’s about, Global Shark Tracker is also available on a computer at this link. Global Shark Tracker is a fun way to see a tiny bit into a shark’s life. You may even find yourself learning a thing or two.