Hawaii man greeted by great white shark during 'insane' experience

Underwater photographer Deron Verbeck said he went diving on Friday off the Big Island's Keahole Point when he thought he saw a school of ulua. But something was off because the size and shape made him think of a tiger shark...at first.
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[@Youre_Right]

People that say sharks don’t intentionally target humans are wrong. I had my identity stolen by a shark. I only found out when the bank called and asked if I really was ordering a ton of tuna fish delivered to the Sunglow Pier at Daytona Beach.

[@KailaniASMR]

😂😂😂

[@ghstproject]

@@KailaniASMR lol :D

[@Notworthy85]

Its a growing problem that needs to be addressed.

[@jayt9661]

🤯🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@linonator]

Here I am thinking I was the only one experiencing this. Thank you for being so brave and putting it out there.

[@hilyfeocean3383]

She was smiling for the camera, I'm sure she liked, commented and subscribed... otherwise you wouldn't be telling this story.

[@nothingshouldbewithouteffort]

😂😂! 🦈🤍

[@thesedaze2381]

Excellent

[@birdlover7776]

👍😊

[@TopHatNat]

So "cute" the way they look like they're smiling! Always reminds me of Bruce, the great white shark from "Finding Nemo".

[@adale2771]

😂 😂😂

[@lovelandfrog5692]

I love how curious she is! She’s a gorgeous animal.

[@austintrousdale2397]

Your handle 🐸👀👾😁

[@somesasquatchnamedsamwithw3929]

you want to be the father of her child?

[@wongwong1517]

It's a braindead violent beast that would eat it's own newborn child if it stuck around too long.

[@rainbowshopes3275]

Why is it always a She? Why can't it be a He?

[@shatiquego9876]

@@rainbowshopes3275it’s clearly a girl you don’t see the claspers on the bottom.

[@accradata]

Could be the greatest experience of your life, or the last. I can only imagine the adrenalin this guy would've been feeling as he realised what it was, cruising up towards him from the depths...amazing stuff

[@Lee-ic8ln]

Great whites rarely attack humans.

[@bryceables2319]

Accepted his fate

[@kd3pcrgang]

That ain’t no great experience, that’s a dumb asf experience

[@2380knight]

@@bryceables2319😂lmfao

[@lucasmancini2]

The chances that a great white encounter will kill you are almost none aslong as you stay calm, stay your ground and look at them. of course if you splash around and panic, your chances to surviving rapidly decrease. But great whites are pretty chill if you are.

[@stan3943]

"If she wanted to take me, she could of; but she didn't." Story of my life...

[@Poatan.chama.]

🤣

[@john-wu2zb]

Ahhh the one that got away...

[@propowerkid647]

dawg

[@rjay5603]

😂

[@toyanthaog5109]

@@john-wu2zb😂😂

[@nonnie8388]

Perfectly said, she was curious. What animal or fish wouldn’t be curious? They are stunningly beautiful, graceful, powerful creatures. They deserve to live and thrive just like any living thing on this planet. Our survival depends on their survival and the health of our planet and oceans.

[@lisasweller6711]

Did you notice she is pregnant to. Majestic beasts.

[@hannibalbarca6308]

Seeing it from your little computer screen: 'ooh its beautiful, majestic, wonderful creature etc etc!!' Seeing it in real life in the water with you: an actual monster

[@melissakitelinger7543]

Agreed 💯

[@melissakitelinger7543]

@@hannibalbarca6308 Naw I've seen them and swam with the "monster" like people who are afraid of horses... Yeah they can kill you.. if you mess with them or just wrong place right time LoL 🤣 😉 you take the risk knowing

[@melissakitelinger7543]

@@lisasweller6711 I thought so too but you can't be sure. Full bellys look like that too sometimes

[@jessehutchings]

Seeing a white shark (and not being a snack) in person diving must be one of the most amazing things

[@villisachinvala5447]

Excellent photography! We lived in the Islands for 13yrs and dove a lot. So this was a beautiful story evoking beautiful memories. Thank you. Nozar and Villi Sachinvala

[@kerryrieu7792]

My favorite shark of all. Unfortunately most people dont understand how important all sharks are to our oceans. Like predators on land serve a purpose, predators in the ocean serve a purpose. Love the white shark. 🦈

[@jeanangel2104]

Mine too....love that shark

[@ImUrZaddy]

I do, that’s why I don’t go into the ocean and disturb their peace, saves me from getting bitten in half during the process too.

[@fastjoecorrigan7426]

Definitely a lot more Predator people

[@aflawedhuman2046]

Did you see the boat they found with a bunch of dead sharks on it, that were missing their fins? Such bs

[@truesonofliberty3267]

What do you think of land predators such as man. Are they a good thing?

[@barrycoomer8137]

Beautiful. What an honour to see a great white. Lucky guy.

[@sgray2089]

ummmmm

[@Pazuzu-tn7bv]

He is a very lucky guy to actually see a great white shark in Hawaiian waters, its rare.

[@Nela1481]

Ahh ya

[@Ci3saLAlreadyHipp3d]

@@Pazuzu-tn7bv what kind of sharks are normally in that ocean

[@Pazuzu-tn7bv]

@@Ci3saLAlreadyHipp3d al types of shark species live in Hawaiian waters like tiger sharks, white tip reef sharks, Galapagos sharks , scalloped hammerheads ect.ect.ect but great whites are rare in Hawaii they tend to be more prevalent on the California coast down to baja mexico and the eastern coast of the US. Australian waters and in South African waters to my knowledge.?

[@tinal30x]

This video is such a breath of fresh air, it makes such a lovely difference to see the friendliest of such a feared species, thank you so much for sharing this xx

[@jaredwilleford5097]

Friendly?hahaha.until she tried to have me for dinner.these things are so dangerous.💯don’t get it twisted.

[@a-ramenartist9734]

​@@jaredwilleford5097source?

[@batmanimal5993]

Not really sure how this could of ended up if he didn't have eyes on it looks like it notices he sees it and his movements aren't of fear or treading water clumsily so it turns away . It could have been following him a long time especially if he had a pee in the water .

[@TurboK24z]

That's because they are a fearsome predator. It just wasn't feeling it that day to prey on a human.

[@galvinstanley3235]

​@@jaredwilleford5097All sharks are dangerous,however people love snorkeling with sharks all the time and not get bit.If a shark wants you they'll attack you,but if you don't bother them you can see them up close.

[@lonelyrooster]

I feel like if I ever met a shark it would just change me. Seeing something that stunning in the wild and sharing that moment. Like seeing a mythical creature..

[@xtherealest]

It almost is a mythical creature. Their population decreased so much it almost is like seeing a unicorn. I wish I could dive with a great white or a tiger shark someday. It would be amazing. I don't need no cage to do it. They should ban killing all sharks so their population goes up at least a bit. They're amazing and they're keeping the balance in the oceans. There's many species that just go invasive because there's not enough predators to hunt them and sharks could definitely be a solution to those problems.

[@Liftingsaveslifes]

@@xtherealestI dive in Hawaii (big island) and almost every single time I dive I see atleast one shark. From my experience it just feels like seeing an animal that could kill you if it felt like it and I kinda feel lower in the food chain which is a wierd feeling for humans. It’s quite humbling especially when it comes to bigger/more aggressive sharks

[@Alex-vq9vj]

Love that it was a positive, non-sensationalizing report! Well done!

[@lilyflower5576]

I would have been like " I was almost eaten" 😭

[@davelundergoesunder]

As a diver, I have told people that if I am diving and a shark shows up, whether or not I am attacked, is entirely up to the shark. There is not very much I could do against a fast powerful animal. When they decide to strike, they moved very fast.

[@duanescot]

No one knows the vulnerable feeling of being at the bottom of the food chain as much as a diver in 60 feet of murky north coast California water with a string of bleeding speared fish within earshot of a pinniped colony :)

[@cymonka3492]

Always carry a bang stick with you

[@timothyjohnson679]

I'm terrified of sharks, but this kinda helps keep in perspective. Trying to swim or get away probably is a bad idea! I guess you just close you're eyes and hope it's not hungry 🤣

[@codycottreau8826]

there scared of things that hold there ground because their used to everything running from them

[@abdul8315]

@@cymonka3492 bangstick won't stop a shark that big, Yes it will injure it but u still a deadman

[@christopheraltenhofen4234]

My wife and I dive and we've done several shark dives. We also did the cage diving with Great Whites at Guadalupe Island. We know several people who have had encounters with Great Whites without cages, and all have had uneventful interactions. After Guadalupe, it was clear to me that these sharks have very deliberate hunting tactics - observing a target and possibly probing it - before striking. Most times, they are not in hunt mode. I've personally seen bull sharks go into hunt mode and it happens very quickly and in response to some stimulus.

[@futurepainthemaking9821]

True and bull sharks don’t play around. White are predatory hunters. I rather be with a white shark over a bull shark any day. I’ve met both sharks and the bull Sharks I noticed seemed to be more interested than the white sharks. Personal experience it could have been different if I was nervous or acting like a fish in distress.

[@suganae8349]

The way she just comes into frame smiling

[@xwing1977]

A guardian of the sea, just coming up to say "Hi" - here we see an intelligent and curious, but cautious animal, not the mindless killer as they're sometimes portrayed....The diver is blessed to have such an amazing and humbling experience :)

[@Southpoint2019]

This is proof they don’t just kill for fun. Creatures of the earth aren’t all killers like humans

[@wavy2815]

@@Southpoint2019 maybe it wasn’t hungry enough

[@Southpoint2019]

@@wavy2815 which is my point Anything will kill when it’s hungry. Unfortunately sharks gets a bad rep because they can’t build computers

[@DevilDaRebel]

@@Southpoint2019 It’ll kill you because it’s too stupid to identify it’s target. Hence why it’ll cut you in half and then leave once it realizes you’re not it’s usual prey.

[@cozysundew33]

@@Southpoint2019 sharks also close their eyes when they open their mouth and also don’t tend to recognize what their prey looks like so they won’t know till they bite you. Most sharks will actually let a human go cause we taste bad but then that leaves said person bitten and bleeding.

[@stephanieyee9784]

That is such an awesome story and a once in a lifetime experience. She is a beautiful animal.

[@amandastakeonit7402]

You hope anyway! Because with each encounter, like with any animal, your odds of an uneventful outcome drop. I would worry more if it were a Tiger shark like he originally thought, THAT would have terrified me!

[@makinghistory4625]

I hope you encounter one someday

[@2ndTim3_1-6]

and the Shark

[@jaredknapp8886]

Sharks are just big ol' sea doggos.

[@heatherhillman9605]

Her fins are slightly bent, not fully bent but she was very wary and ready if he were to make any kind of threatening move. She was super cautious.

[@SithCelia]

What an honor to be able to share this kind of experience with such an ancient and sadly misunderstood being. We really do inhabit an amazingly beautiful planet!

[@markhilltaco4079]

Yes people think they mistake humans for seals but they sometimes clearly hunt and eat humans. Very misunderstood

[@Churchill867]

They don't eat humans. They take exploratory bites and when they taste the iron content in our blood it repels them. Just so happens because of their size , strength and serrated teeth. When they do bite they do heavy damage but they do no feed on humans or every bite victim would be taken under and devoured by shark & Co.

[@bEtHeSdA_LAME_sTuDi0s]

​@@markhilltaco4079 Great bait

[@replynotificationsdisabled]

@@markhilltaco4079 agreed, same with orca. Just waiting to see humans swimming with seal hunter orcas. Those people who say they don't target humans aren't the ones swimming in shark infested waters.

[@ericfixedtwo8067]

@@markhilltaco4079 nice try

[@parabola8933]

If you look at the malibu artist on youtube, he has a bunch of drone videos of great whites swimming around people all the time off the California coast. They're always around you and they don't attack unless it's mistaken identity.

[@missalisha9644]

Amazing, do you happen to remember the KZbin page name? I just wanted to check it is out. I tried to find it but dont know any names lol

[@missalisha9644]

Oppp. Well never mind lol I just typed in 'Malibu artist' and the first video that came up in the search was from a KZbin channel called 'Malibu artist' & the video was of Drone footage of sharks like you said LMAO

[@Drifter6942]

That man has some amazing drone footage from California and the Gallipolis islands. He also inspired a young boy that is on the start of a great career of aqua drone footage his channel is GreatWhiteDronE and has collaborated with The Malibu Artist. Check him out, but remember, he is like 10 or something, so he is just starting out

[@missalisha9644]

@@Drifter6942 Thank you, I appreciate the suggestion as I really enjoy content like that. And it's rather shocking that such a young man can collaborate with someone older than him, just shows how talented he really is. I'm certainly going to be checking him out right now. Thank you 😊

[@Antonio_4]

The Malibu artist's is awesome. His content really changed my perspective of great whites. That, and there's also another video of a guy who filmed the eyes of a shark. It's truly stunning to see they have pupils that move around and follow you too, instead of just the scary looking "lifeless black pearl of death". It almost makes the shark look friendly to me after seeing the life in their eyes lol.

[@Coccolinodc]

It’s crazy to think that encounters with white sharks can range from something this benign and amazing to the horrible tragedy of poor Simon Nellist, who was predated upon by a GW while he was swimming along the coast south of Sydney. There the shark identified him as prey attacked and came back multiple times to actually take chunks out of him. Luckily the latter cases are very rare

[@skycloud4802]

In a way, sharks are a lot like people. Most will leave you alone, but sometimes they will harm you.

[@xtherealest]

Because there's big difference between people that get attacked and people that don't. Like 99% of the time when someone gets attacked is when they are swimming they don't know the shark is there and the shark thinks it's prey is trying to escape. When there's people like this that are just snorkeling, freediving, scuba diving or something like that. They see the shark. They know there's nothing to freak about. They stay calm, the sharks just come to check out what is it there and just swims away. Sharks are curious, most of them probably haven't seen a human ever so they don't know what it is so they just come to check it out. They don't attack without a reason. When someone is swimming and splashing around and they get attacked by a shark then sorry that's your fault. You were splashing around acting like sharks prey. When you go for a swim in the ocean or a sea that's just the risk you have to accept when entering the water. It's their territory, not yours.

[@kwl189]

@@xtherealest that’s a very developed comment to basically summarise my mentality whenever I’m in unfamiliar territory with animals. Surrender to them. This is their turf and their territory, you’re just passing by, you’re out of your lane here and got to give them their respect.

[@Apocketfullofbs]

Great white sharks***

[@Mortthemoose]

@@skycloud4802 That's just not true though! Humans that harm other humans are evil. Sharks that harm humans are just hungry! It's survival for them! They don't think "oh, that's a human. We sharks don't attack humans".

[@elementneon]

It's a good thing we are not aware of just how often these big guys are just out of sight checking us out, mostly just cruising and seeing the sites. It is amazing watching drone footage of them just offshore passing by, dipping in to see what all the noise is about, then moving on.

[@AlohaLowah]

Shark was thinking "remember to say fish are friends not food... It keeps the people calm. And don't forget to smile!!!"

[@GabrielPHahn]

Probably she is Bruce's wife... 😬

[@MetallicaKing48]

I’ve said it again and again until I’ve been blue in the face. These are animals living in their natural habitat. They aren’t monsters, they are simply surviving. But they will check us out and say hello once in a while.

[@maxpulido4268]

And if it bites me, I'm gonna eat shark for lunch every day for the rest of my life.

[@Jeff-bl1rz]

Say it again …

[@4477superman]

Not monsters but still predators. They can and do eat people occasionally

[@MetallicaKing48]

@@4477superman Usually by accident or for survival reasons. Lions, tigers, and bears also do the same thing. Does that make them monsters? No. Monsters literally just kill only to kill. It’s like a sport to them. I’ll give you an example though that fits pretty well in this topic. The dinosaurs from the Jurassic Park movie franchise, they weren’t monsters. They were Apex predators, yes. But they were not monsters. They were confused from living in a sheltered environment from captivity, and they were wanting to break free to actually survive. But in the movie franchise of Jurassic World, we got these new genetically altered creatures that mimic dinosaurs. But they are not animals, they are definitely closer to the definition of monster. For the fact that they do in fact kill only for sport and not for survival.

[@predaxgamer6396]

@@MetallicaKing48 dolphins sound more like monsters to me.

[@seankolker]

A lot of us won’t get to experience such an honor and blessing. I’d love to see a white shark in person.

[@hera7884]

Great Whites are beautifully camouflaged. If you look at one above you, it blends in with the light, if you look down at one, it looks like a rock on the sea floor.

[@vickymatous5512]

She’s gorgeous!! And did you notice her smile on the way up?! “Oh hey- wonder what that is up there… ah- human… off I go” What an amazing moment to share with her!! ❤️🦈

[@manwellmanwell4237]

I highly doubt that’s why the shark was thinking 😂

[@scotteppers]

What an experience!!.. One in a million. Thank you for sharing

[@Ranger_k16]

Diving with white sharks is fairly common

[@gunnar4915]

@@Ranger_k16 Not with whites

[@Ranger_k16]

@@gunnar4915 you should probably get out more

[@GR-uc1gq]

@@gunnar4915 racist

[@fraskie66]

@@Ranger_k16 Swimming near divers yes, but one that is swimming directly toward the diver and comes inches from them face to face.. not often

[@ShakazuluJones]

I think it was very kind of that shark to go out of her way to greet the diver.

[@zlj18manta]

The moment the shark saw the camera pointed at her, she knew to just turn around because the cameraman never dies.

[@htruth1785]

Large pregnant white sharks are very chilled out

[@betsybarnicle8016]

She looked pregnant.

[@xenomorph42]

@@betsybarnicle8016 or full

[@0MsBlueberry0]

Thank you for posting such a 'harmless', insightful and beautiful video of one of the great animals roaming this earth. It seems the feeling of 'awe' was mutual.

[@ScottRock-mr6qk]

You mean harmless this time. Next time he might not be as lucky. It all depends on whether the sharks is hungry or not as to whether he makes it back alive. This video might well have been the last video of his life. Again just depends on the shark because in the ocean we're no longer the top predators.

[@JordanVanRyn]

This guy is lucky to see a very chill shark and be in her presence. I would be terrified to be in the presence of a great white shark.

[@i.d.modisett9176]

Even the sharks in Hawaii are chill

[@kevinpersaud2949]

I wish they'd just post the whole footage. They kept just starting it over where you couldn't really see.

[@bret8024]

We're all talking about how lucky this guy was when in fact sharks have much more to fear from humans than vise versa

[@norml.hugh-mann]

We saw a great white a bit off the coast in the Gulf of Mexico where the silty river waterr floats up over the clear salt water which is heavier creating a unique visibility condition there, also it gets incredobly deep very close to shore for the GOM...I was part of a commerical diving operation. The shark swam by and lingered for half an hour, about 15 foot long then it quit swimming by anymore and was gone

[@Dennis_84]

That shark had a smile on his face when he was coming at him.

[@XIII5XIII]

Im shocked they'd be in the ocean of all places...

[@Erin-vu1tt]

@S faafiti. 😆🤣😆🤣😆

[@jahjah525]

😆

[@sk8ercaligirl]

Funny comment lol 😂

[@Wendi713]

@@casey8083 Would you like a dictionary to look up the word irony???

[@jimsurfnfish8089]

😂😂😂 the shark wasn’t smiling at him, da Buggah was smiling at your joke🤙🏽 Obviously some people don’t have a sense of humor, not to mention names Casey😂🤣🤪

[@omarlagasca7487]

Great white carrying a smiley face….lucky diver she was not hungry…

[@acojankovic3709]

Have that big camera helped him out

[@Huntermyth]

bad humour is the best solution. my man just proved that.

[@t1ydot]

She was like “hi friend! Lemme swim by so you can see my awesomeness! 😆”

[@CerebralEnema]

So awesome. They are actually quite common in Hawaii but generally stay in deep water.

[@Laakona]

Not always. I was diving with friends about half a mile off Haleiwa in 2001 and saw one in less than 100 feet of water.

[@Cola64]

@@Laakona saw one off the old airport near kona back in the 80’s

[@UTAH100]

They follow the food- usually deep with currents (that bring in the food chain.) In Galapagos, they come right up to the shore...to get the seals.

[@vdoza33]

@@Laakona yeah that’s why they said generally. Learn to read.

[@ataboy42h14]

The video I saw of the Great White off of Haleiwa, they were pretty far out. I’m trying to find that video to share and you can compare the size of the shark to the diver who taped it. Unbelievable beauty 🙏🏼👍🏼💖💖💖

[@kukuipupule4415]

Brah, Dats Freddy...He's cool

[@Bravenotsorry94]

It’s a she

[@Deeznutz...]

@@Bravenotsorry94 he trans

[@Bravenotsorry94]

@@Deeznutz... lol

[@Adam-sv5uo]

Did you call her Chica?

[@darrelbaring]

I've been spear fishing on the Big Island for over 30 years, almost every weekend and have encountered many different types of sharks but none have ever showed aggressive behavior. Most ignored me except for the tiger sharks. They always came close and then suddenly turned away when they were within a couple of feet reach. A friend of mine told me they saw a great white in Milolii years ago. Wish there was go pro cameras back then.

[@art-team69]

What's your favorite spearfishing spot?

[@askforwisdomfirst]

Timing (shark not hungry) + calm behavior (from the man) = you get to tell the tale.

[@Erin-vu1tt]

She actually looked pregnant! Not that I've ever seen a female great white shark. 🦈 Let alone a pregnant one! 🤔 🤭 😆

[@bonniematthews2500]

I wondered if she was pregnant too

[@vickymarinou6271]

Same thought here

[@pamelaturner6092]

I was thinking the same: pregnant, or had recently eaten.

[@Marc9889]

Maybe she’s just big-boned?

[@vangu2918]

My thought also👍

[@joshuatrotter25]

Actually scientists are just now starting to figure out that they migrate from Guadalupe Island in October and come to the open Pacific even as far as Hawaii and return to the Guadalupe around March(males) and April(the bigger females)

[@Rhyno9750]

From what I understand GW's actually roam the seas a lot more often and a lot further than that.

[@jahjah525]

Hmmmm.and our people did that too....

[@laoisem316]

@@Rhyno9750 They actually don't though. They are found around the world so that is what we thought prior. Thanks to identification measures and gps tracking we now know that they tend to stick to their own area of the world. In other words, a GW that was first identified off the coast of Africa is not likely to be found in Hawaiian waters.

[@Rhyno9750]

@@laoisem316 that raises so many more questions for me

[@florianschmidt1055]

@@laoisem316 wrong.

[@Eggzlord]

“This man has a LOT to be grateful for, as he was in a close encounter with a great white shark!” Shark: *Yo wassup*

[@MissMarshall]

Oh ❤️ what a sweet mama girl. She looks like she’s carrying some babies too.

[@zmonsterk]

Pregnant and/or full of whale blubber she is very lay back but clear water is definitely the best place to run into a large white. 🇦🇺

[@SquirrelThis]

Ahhh a fellow Aussie who recognises that 15 foot is big-ish, and that in Hawaii there is more wriggle room for the chances of an awe and wonder encounter. Where as over here, while cruisy moments still happen, it is perhaps better to simply NOT be in the water with them, as they rarely look THAT well rounded in our waters 😁 what a beauty though! Definitely full of blubber or babies.

[@Virjunior01]

@@SquirrelThis is it not because they GO to your continent for annual feasting?

[@SquirrelThis]

@@Virjunior01 ooh sorry I totally misread your reply 😳 but yeah that seems about right too. 😬😄

[@kaihamasaki9307]

@@SquirrelThis 15 foot is huge, but clear waters is definitely the best time to encounter a large shark. I've watched videos of great whites in Australia and they come out of no where and disappear in a blink of an eye. Thats sketchy.

[@Abebe345]

Whether they have fed recently is probably something that should be more talked about and visual cues.

[@kenmcdougall6106]

Love the expression 'they only behave aggressively when they're actively foraging'... it's not like they're looking for mushrooms and herbs, is it? Would hunting be perhaps more accurate?

[@fastjoecorrigan7426]

KRAZY

[@gurgleblaster2282]

They scavenge to. Whale carcasses etc. They hunt seals and rays. Foraging is a catch all to include scavenging.

[@gurgleblaster2282]

They scavenge to. Whale carcasses etc. They hunt seals and rays. Foraging is a catch all to include scavenging.

[@kylebartlett7417]

We at my house have a saying about my dogs.This is a perfect way to express it to the Oceans.With two young kids just two years apart many spills, drops, and a whole lot of other with food.When it happens we call the dogs our Mobile Disposal.That s exactlay what they are as well

[@brsrc759]

Yeah not only that but they do not "bite" things. They attack!! I got nailed in 1999 by a 12-ft tiger in kona. And now one of my classmates gets nailed by a great white in Kona. Probably this shark

[@hurleycapetown8420]

I have surfed in great white waters most of my life but wow i would shit myself if i looked down and saw that coming up at me.

[@G2thesecondpower]

Guaranteed they've seen you thousands of times ;). I grew up in the coast of California swimming in the ocean. After watching drone footage (Malibu Artist) I'm 100% certain I've been close to many sharks while blissfully unaware. If you are from Cape Town, guaranteed, you have too. May I suggest an ocean camo wetsuit? Probably best to try not to look like a seal...

[@mechanic6682]

First time I went freediiving at night on Maui I dropped my light. It was only 30 feet so I swam down and grabbed it. My light hit a fish and when I saw the eye staring back I realized it was a shark. I practically ran across the water cartoon style back to the Zodiak. My friend laughed at me because it was only a 3 ft reef shark.

[@aprilsmith3683]

She is a beauty... Well done on keeping a steady hand and a calm head... 🇿🇦

[@GangGangClips]

Epic! Love the new POVs all around the world thanks to action cams! Imagine what was never captured!

[@howardhughes7596]

I lived in American Samoa, island of Tutuila in the early 80's. Spent a lot of time in the water spearfishing and diving. Saw sharks all the time. Mostly black tip and white tip reef sharks. They would come close to me, take a look, see it was me, and off they would go. My wife and I did get cruised by a tiger very early one evening just a few feet from shore in about four feet of water. It was around 12 foot long. It cruised by and my wife attempted to stand on top of my head. Till death do we part I guess. I later came to realize that late afternoon is the beginning of what I called "feeding time at the zoo". Dinner time for many predators and a good time to stay out of the water. Long ago, far away. Almost got munched by a mako one fine day too. I still shudder thinking about it. Young, bold and stupid. Dangerous combination.

[@jonathanbair523]

Love seeing story's like this where folks do not freak out because they see a shark.... Next time might want to tell folks how to know if a shark is aggressive or just checking you out... Allot of folks don't know so a story like this would be perfect to help educate folks on how to read sharks, and what to do when you see them...... To help save folks from making it safer for folks to see such a wonderful animal with understanding on what to do, and not to do.

[@titus4702]

Great white is no joke, dude lucky af 😂

[@florianschmidt1055]

no approach from behind, normal cruising speed, angle of the fins were in neutral position, no threat at all

[@billsixx]

Yeah, when they disappear in font of you, they reappear right behind you.....

[@ronaldcastaneda681]

Cameraman never dies.

[@davidmcdermott7861]

The first time they made a joke about him being "thankful" because it was right around Thanksgiving it was pretty funny. But the *second* time they made a joke about him being thankful it was REALLLY funny.

[@fredread9216]

Good visibility makes a big difference too I have dove with many sharks before including Tiger and Great hammerhead and never felt threatened. I could see them, they could see me. Murky water and surfers,/swimmers splashing on the surface are different settings.

[@deborahmerkerson1145]

I was blessed to snorkel throughout the Florida Keys, Bahamas and Caribbean and saw many sharks. I only saw one that was threatening. It was just as you see in nature videos, it was swimming with quick, darting movements, coming closer with each pass. I had my two daughters with me and I told them to get to the dive boat while I stayed between them and the shark, facing it. I had never had training on what to do if a shark acted like it as going to attack. I just did what felt right, to stand my “ground” and look as big as possible. After a few more passes, it swam off. Once I was back in the boat I learned that the shark had been chased over the reef head by two inexperienced snorkelers who were taking pictures. It was a large reef, at least 60 feet across with only 18 inches of water over it. The shark was pi$$ed and I couldn’t blame it. So was I, but not with the shark!

[@luiserenner7147]

Yes, they are looking out for the surprise. If he wasn't aware of her it made have taken a different turn though

[@kiwibloke2000]

Yup. I agree and have similar experiences- easier to be calm and deal with them when you have visibility.

[@deborahmerkerson1145]

@@kiwibloke2000 Since you responded very recently I would like to ask you a question and see if you can give me any insight as to what was going on. I grew up in Key West and heard many stories about barracudas and how they attack people wearing shiny jewelry. I have made certain to not wear anything to attract them! Then over the years I have had dive masters say there are no documented barracuda attacks on people. I still haven’t researched it. But twice I had huge barracuda get really close and personal when I was snorkeling in the Bahamas. The first time was in water about 20 feet deep next to a reef that rose nearly to the surface. We had just anchored and were getting ready to snorkel the reef. I had gone in to check the anchor. As always, I looked over my shoulder as I was headed back to the boat for my two daughters. This barracuda as long as I was and just about as round was about six feet from me and swimming towards me. I did not handle it well. I knew my two young children were exiting the boat and I popped up yelling for them to get back in. I don’t know what the barracuda did because my head was out of the water. My husband was furious with me, made us leave and refused to take us snorkeling for two days. As we were leaving two snorkelers from another boat surfaced. They had been spear fishing and my now ex-husband said that the barracuda had been disturbed by the spear fishing and it came to check us out. If my children had still been in the boat it would have been different. But they were 6 and 7 at the time and that fish was as large as they were. I had never been concerned before but barracudas usually just sort of drift in and out without much movement. This particular barracuda was moving as though it had a purpose! The last time I was snorkeling alone in water less than 6’ deep near shore over a grass bed. I had been looking for seahorses and was ready to leave. I was near a rock jetty that jutted out about 30’ in water three feet deep. I was literally pulling myself along by my hands while floating on the surface. I glanced over my shoulder and there was the biggest barracuda I have ever seen. I did not know they got that big. I am tall and had on flippers and this fish was as long as I was with flippers and it was bigger round than me. You know how in Little Red Riding Hood she says ‘Why Grandma, what big teeth you have!’ Well, that’s what it was like with both of those barracuda. It wasn’t just that they had gotten so close, it was that I could see their teeth. Really see them. I can still see them! It’s the stuff of nightmares. Do you think I was in any danger or were they just curious? That particular rock jetty is in front of 6-7 condos with a very small beach (especially by Bahamas standards) and in use year round. I cannot imagine a fish that large was living in that area. I had snorkeled in that area many times. There’s nothing to eat! So what do you think he was doing? I have puzzled over that for 16 years! Maybe I should write a barracuda expert to find out. I am definitely not a scary cat but those two fish unnerved me. Is this something commonplace? M.

[@kiwibloke2000]

@@deborahmerkerson1145 I don't have any experience really with Barracuda. I am aware that they will attack a spearfisher if you shoot them and don't kill them and that they will go for shiny objects. However, I would say you were in zero danger. There is no way a person would look like food and it is not good survival practice to 'fight' large creatures like humans if a barracuda can't swallow it in a bite, and I have never heard of a problem with them. The one with the spearfishers around was probably excited by speared fish and coming to see if you had some. the 6 feet of water is plenty of depth for bait fish. and they tend to hang around structures like the jetty.

[@SquirrelThis]

That was incredible, she was BEAUTIFUL and yes her behaviour was clearly curious, which would have brought my fear level down from scream, poop myself and faint to... pee myself, shake violently, hyperventilate, thrash wildly for the boat the minute I unfroze and then cry uncontrollably in the corner, all whilst thanking God repeatedly. 😆

[@StevenE-xg7jw]

Deron! Great to see you here and what a cool experience!

[@mafirearmsafety]

Proof the camera man never dies.

[@miclic3angels]

Seeing great whites in Hawaii is amazing. It just shows that those beautiful fish are coming back around. As everyone knows who loves sharks the numbers were dwindling and thank goodness due to conservation and protection that these Majestic fish are coming back.

[@xtherealest]

They have to protect them. They are amazing creatures and they keep the balance in the oceans. Those who kill them for fins are the real monsters here.

[@preservocean7862]

WOW! What an amazing experience - one you'll never ever forget!

[@unrepentingrebel3241]

It was a Great White Shark

[@ZephrusPrime]

"Human...I must help you …you look lost.."-shark

[@ginapineda5622]

What a beautiful shark such a cool experience 🥰

[@mariahjahanbakhsh171]

I love how he laughed nervously when the other guy was like “You’re not fish food right now.” I guarantee this mans life flashed before his eyes and he’s traumatized by seeing a great white that close to him

[@CalvinOnTheCoast]

Probably not. He likely went back the next day.

[@elishaberry611]

Beautiful animal. An amazing encounter.

[@doonhilla]

Amazing creatures, and what a buzz for that dude to see one so close up.

[@valerieturner9887]

I like how the shark is smiling as she is heading towards him 😂😂

[@willcookmakeup]

Love this. I’ve always loved sharks and got to be around them only once but they truly are just curious and don’t really care about us and aren’t to be irrationally feared

[@jimmyreece5781]

You haven't been around them enough.

[@patootie3529]

@@jimmyreece5781 and people who have been around them their whole lives would still say they are majestic

[@user-mi5tu2rq6r]

@@patootie3529 Something can be majestic and eat humans, its not mutually exclusive

[@biggeek2256]

She was a beautiful shark! She just wanted to say hi

[@TheHighlanderGirl]

The cameraman never dies!!!

[@1mikewalsh]

He never felt he was in danger because that's how sharks work, one minute yer swimming along, the next, "GOTCHA!"

[@whatsmolly5741]

You're pretty safe while diving, great whites usually ambush from the bottom so unless you're flopping around like a seal on the surface you should be ok.

[@sgtkillgore]

"Gotcha bitch" - Dave Sharkpelle

[@hannibalbarca6308]

@@whatsmolly5741 lmao, you are never 'safe' around a giant aquatic predator.

[@whatsmolly5741]

@@hannibalbarca6308 you're pretty safe with an orca or a sperm whale and they will both kill a great white just for the lols

[@sherrimartin4775]

Much respect to the shark...one of my worst nightmares besides a grizzly bear 😬

[@leviathan3630]

Grizzly bears are probably 10x as dangerous as great white sharks

[@pedrojavierish]

I respect them and love them to but that's also funny coming from the APEX predator the world have ever known.

[@AlexJonesFool]

Several feet underwater, there’s nothing you can do🤣😩.

[@a_w9570]

@@AlexJonesFool they dont attack, you can dive with greatwhites, bull sharks and tiger sharks for 10s of years and not attack you

[@jimmyreece5781]

@@a_w9570 or you can be attacked the first time you go in the water. The essence is that you're never safe.

[@electricbullshark765]

Shark said "nice fins bruh" and kept cruisin

[@altonarmstrong]

The shark was just chillin

[@Cola64]

Wow that was the kill zone to , you swimming above and the shark deep below 🤙🏻

[@mad-pit3832]

You watch to much shark week lol

[@Cola64]

@@mad-pit3832 Can’t stand Shark Week ‘ But I did stay at a Holiday Inn last Night 🌴

[@AshaLee111]

She honestly looked so happy to see you :)

[@123fockewolf]

So Smart he Knew that the cameraman never dies!!

[@johnvalerian8440]

No thanks, I’ll just stay on land

[@bonniematthews2500]

Beautiful creature!!

[@shlingusdingus4174]

What a beautiful animal. Very glad that this was a positive experience.

[@anonman3707]

I'm in my house up in the hills and my legs are going numb watching this. What a beast

[@seraphinaaizen6278]

Since the advent of drones, it's become clear just how close great white sharks are to people ALL THE TIME. If you've been swimming off the beach in warm waters, the odds are you've been within a few meters of a shark and never noticed. They're more interested in looking for sting rays and other things that are actually on their menu.

[@xtherealest]

Probably 95% people that encounter a shark don't even know the shark was there near them. They don't have the reason to attack. There's so much footage of people swimming and even kids swimming near a GW shark and those kids don't even know and the shark doesn't care. They just peacefully coexist.

[@jenniferjones2579]

They have no problem eating us just as well.

[@evoke97]

@@jenniferjones2579 They really don't, they may bite to identify us but we are not on their menu

[@user-mi5tu2rq6r]

Humans are essentially aliens to them. They don't know whether we are poisonous or aggressive when attacked, we don't have much body fat... these are the only things protecting us. All it takes is one extra hungry or extra curious shark.

[@Irelandrbi]

Amazing encounter. Wow.

[@anon2414]

Cameraman never dies

[@brandyoctober5923]

Looks like she was just smiling saying hi friend

[@rapturebound197]

Wow!... You'll be a changed diver from this point on! Thanx for sharing 👍

[@69Muscle]

Years ago, I was snorkeling at Looe Key in the Keys, a 10+ Bull Shark came swimming by me in about 30 feet. I wasn’t really scared as I was more in awe. The dorsal fins were not pointed down, and he/she was just cruising by… unbelievable moment.

[@nicholasming5976]

Similar thing happened while I was cleaning barnacles off 22ft sea pro in destin. Pissed myself but an awesome moment no doubt

[@OldAussieAds]

I'm no expert. But I feel you'd have better luck with a great white than a bull shark.

[@anonymousrando9934]

Shark: “y-yuh-no I’m full. Appreciate you stopping by tho, see ya!”

[@jeremyhigdon8400]

A man died just a few days ago in Sydney, Australia by a great white shark! Please be careful people if you live by the ocean. his name was Simon, he was 35 years old. KZbin actually let someone post it and I didn't think it was a person but a seal. I looked it up and sure enough it was a person. It was a gruesome video. Please don't watch it if you get nightmares easily. R.I.P Simon of Sydney, Australia. He was a British Diving Instructor and swam regularly. :(

[@G2thesecondpower]

Of course that is tragic. But you do have to remember that it is still incredibly rare. people that spend more time in the water like surfers and divers will be at higher risk of course, but the fact is more people are killed by domestic dogs. According to stats I just pulled up on google, your risk of getting killed by a domestic dog is 1 in 112,400, and your risk of getting eaten by a shark is 1 in 3,748,067.

[@ttonyamonster]

15ft long... She's seen people before. Nothing new to her.

[@johnwindham6226]

That’s one big tita.