Scuba Instructor Reacts to SeaMonster Shark - Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Scuba Instructor Reacts to SeaMonster Shark - Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
This incredible video shows an absolute monster shark in a Dubai Mall Aquarium. The deformed moth makes the giant shark look all the more menacing as it hovers just inches away from the nervous tank divers. Would you do this?
Many thanks and credit to the original uploader:
• Shark Dive Dubai Aquar...
#dubaimallaquarium #giantshark #jaws #seamonster
Safe diving!
Jim
Big Dog, DDT
DiscoveryDiversTokyo.com
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[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Would you do this? Also, does anyone know why this shark's mouth is so deformed? Support for the channel: Patreon - www.patreon.com/discoverydiverstokyo

[@katiemaige4275]

The shark is yawning

[@gosforthlad]

Dude you're claiming to be a diving instructor but you can't tell the difference between a real shark and a well made anmatronics prop for tourist entertainment ! Ho come it was unnaturally gigantic especially for a aquarium ? Why did I act so slow , weird and senseless ? And who took the video from all angles of the encounter and ridiculously close too ? Time to change your career or your glasses .. Thanks for posting you made my day 😅

[@jpburnez5655]

THAT FREAKING SHARK IS FAKER THAN SANTA 🎅!!!!!😂😂😂😂😂

[@TammyCook1354]

Hi Jim! Yes... That's definitely a Sand Tiger shark. Not sure why it's mouth is so deformed. But, what I am sure of is that shark was completely asleep when that video was shot. I was a volunteer diver at an aquarium for 8 years and it was very common for sand tigers to circle slowly like that over divers when they were asleep. Another indication of that is the gaping of it's mouth. When sharks sleep, they swim very slowly and gape their mouths. The shark is gaping is mouth and literally "gasping for breath" trying to keep itself oxygenated enough since it's not swimming fast enough to push enough water across it's gills to keep oxygenated. The shark is in a "semi conscious" state, basically kind of like sleep walking. This is just my own personal theory, but I think our exhalations attract them somehow while they are sleeping. I did "dive shows" regularly at the aquarium while scuba diving with a communication mask on. And there would be a live audience that I would interact with and answer their questions about the sharks, conservation, etc. It was very common to see sharks sleeping and behaving in this manner and they would oftentimes hover over us why diving when they were sleeping. At no time were the divers actually in any danger of being "eaten alive"... It's a very harmless encounter. :-)

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Tammy, thanks so much for this informative comment. What stories you must have! Would love to hear some. Thanks again for enriching this thread 👍

[@TammyCook1354]

@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo You are most welcome! Yes, I do have a few stories... I will share one related to a sleeping sand tiger. if you like. As I mentioned above, when doing a "dive show" at the aquarium, I wore a communication mask while inside an exhibit called "Surrounded by Sharks". There's a theater directly outside of the exhibit with a live audience of up to 300 or so people sitting on benches. The only thing separating us is a 3" slab of acrylic. There's a "dry side" presenter and then me, inside the exhibit. The audience can hear me and the dry side presenter can relay questions to me from the audience and I answer whatever they ask and I talk about the exhibit, shark behaviors, what I am seeing go by me in the exhibit at the time, etc... I am facing the audience usually on my knees, so we are low in the exhibit to give the sharks as much leeway as possible while they pass over our heads. There are always two safety divers with me that are facing opposite of me, basically "watching my back" for low flying sand tigers so they can pat me on the back to let me know when a sand tiger is making a low altitude "fly by". When they signal me, I drop forward to lower my profile in the water. When they pat my back again, it signals an "all clear" and I can raise back up. One day, there was a sleeping sand tiger that just kept circling overhead so they patted my back and I lowered and I had to do almost the entire dive show crouched down somewhat. So, my fins are extended out behind me, of course, from being lower in the water column. Well, the shark rays are very attracted to fins, especially "outstretched" ones "just there for the taking"... (Shark rays are not sharks, not rays, but cousins to both. They have a wide bowed front, like a sting ray and the rest of their body resembles a shark, with a dorsel fin. They are quite remarkably agile creatures, that like to play A LOT. They can turn on dime.) "Sweet Pea", an adult female, about 7 feet long decided my fins looked especially "yummy" that day. So, she was grabbing at the end of my fin and tugging me around a bit at times. This happened occasionally at the aquarium... The safety divers would try to keep them off the dive presenter, but there's only so much you can do with a 3 foot piece of white PVC pipe, that they called a "safety pole". The idea is that if an animal is getting too close to a diver, you extend the PVC pipe out and use it as a physical barrier. The animal usually just swims around it then. We never try to hit or push off an animal. That would be a big "no no"... Sweet Pea just didn't care that day. She wanted my fin and she was going to have it. So, she's aggressively pulling on it now and I'm being dragged a bit. I was used to that happening and knew the safety divers would keep an eye on her if she tried to head toward my ankles or anything... If she did, they'd put the safety pole between her and my ankle to ward her off as much as possible. If she got too aggressive, they could "call the dive" and we'd end the dive show and exit the exhibit. At this time, I am actively talking to the audience telling them some random facts about sharks. Sweet pea has a hold of my fin now and is tugging me a little aggressively. I don't think too much of this... When, all of a sudden, the dry side presenter runs in front the glass and says "we have to stop the dive show"... Then, he proceeds to say to me, "Would you please tell the audience that you are not being eaten alive by a shark right now!" Apparently, someone in the audience was literally "freaking out" because she thought I was being devoured whole by a shark because she could see I was being tugged by something. As I said before, usually we are on our knees, and between me and the two safety divers being side by side, the audience can't usually see when a shark ray is biting our fins. But, because I was crouched down at the time, I didn't have my knees as anchored into the gravel as much as normal. So, the tugging by the shark ray was apparently very evident to the audience... And, being crouched down, they could actually see the shark ray behind me pulling at something. But, they only really saw it's dorsel fin moving fast back and forth behind me. So, apparently, even though I was speaking normally and continuing on with the dive show, this woman was convinced I was being eaten alive! I explained what was going on, apologized for not realizing what they were really seeing and we went on with the dive show. I usually didn't mention it to the audience if I didn't think it was seen by them because people often mistake play for aggression. It was just Sweet Pea playing. She had no intent to harm me. She just wanted to play with my bright yellow chew toy that day. During the Christmas holiday season, the dive show features a diving Santa, elves and a large sleigh in the tank and Santa listens to kids in the audience tell what they want for Christmas. I would often be a dressed up "safety elf", "watching Santa's back" while holding a candy cane shaped safety pole with red stripes on it... During the entire dive show, I would spend most of my time trying to keep Denver, a large loggerhead sea turtle, off of Santa's hat. He REALLY wanted to play with the white pom pom tip on his hat. And, sometimes it was really hard to keep him off it. Sometimes he would win and swim off with it... It was super fun diving at the aquarium. I miss it a lot. I would encourage all divers that live near an aquarium to consider volunteering and helping care for these amazing marine creatures and help educate the public on marine life and conservation efforts. Every little bit helps. And, you will get a lot out of it too! You can literally dive the world in a day! I oftentimes would dive the Amazon, Coral Reef and the Surrounded by Shark Exhibits all in a single day. And, getting to know animals by name and getting to know their unique behaviors over time is really cool too! Hope you enjoyed reading one of my aquarium adventures! Tammy

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

@@TammyCook1354 Hi Tammy, thanks so much for the added contribution of your adventures here. What a laugh. I have a funny video of when we went to the aquarium with my kids on cleaning day...lots of marine mammal mischief (kzbin.info/www/bejne/eojNkniCechsoc0). Question, what was the reason your spotters would push you to the deck / What would be a probably/possible bad outcome. Have the sand tigers been known to grab a tank--mate?

[@TammyCook1354]

@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo Great video. Those Beluga whales were being so naughty! They were really having fun playing with that diver. I love them. They are such intelligent creatures. The safety diver's #1 goal is to ensure our safety and the safety of the marine animals in the exhibit. The primary way to do that is to make sure we don't interfere with the animals movement through the exhibit. So, if a sleeping sand tiger is swimming aimlessly around the exhibit and we are in it's swim path, we will do Matrix-like maneuvers to get out of it's way. Not because we are concerned about it attacking us or anything. That was never a concern. But, if you put your elbow or hand directly in the mouth of a shark by accident, a bite could occur due to startling the shark. So, the aquarium had very high skill levels that divers had be able to demonstrate before being allowed to dive those exhibits. Maintaining excellent buoyancy was mandatory at all times. With so many sharks swimming around you, you wouldn't want to make the mistake of extending your hand out and accidentally putting it in the mouth of a shark. Actually our major concern for a possible bite was from the loggerhead sea turtle. He was very mischievous and often liked to bite at anything lose on your dive gear, be it a lose strap or maybe your hood popped up a bit because an air bubble was trapped underneath. And, he was known for taking off masks of divers that weren't watching him close enough. And, with a 500 lb bite force, he could possibly take off a finger, or worse. Of course, he was just playing, with no intent to harm us, but we had to be cautious, just in case he accidentally bit more than just our dive gear during his playtime with us. The only time we were concerned about sharks was during their mating season. Even in an aquarium, they go through a mating season. All of our sharks were male. This was intentional, to try to discourage mating behavior. But, even in an all male environment, the primal urge to mate is so strong that the larger males will grab the smaller sharks pectoral fins, try to roll them over and try to mate with them. This is a very aggressive behavior. The sharks swim super fast when this is occurring. It's a very dangerous situation for divers to be in because having a 10 foot, up to 400 lb thrashing, rolling shark coming at you like a missile, could really do some serious damage. Not likely from being bitten, but rather, from it's body and force of impact that might occur. So, our safety divers are always especially on the lookout for mating behavior. If it's observed, we exit the exhibit immediately. And, at the height of mating season, we would actually not dive shark exhibits for a few days. It was just too dangerous because of the frequency of the behavior. One time, two sharks were near me and the one closest to me got a little spooked and thrashed it's tail quickly to exit the area. I felt that percussion in the water from that movement. It was quite impressive. If that shark's tail would have actually contacted my arm or leg, I am sure that I could have ended up with a broken bone as a result.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

@@TammyCook1354 Hi Tammy. Good grief, this thread has become a goldmine with your contributions! Yeah, the Belugas were really off the hook that day. I heard mixed feedback about the dolphin. On the one hand, I heard it was mating behavior, on the other hand, I heard it was drowning behavior to take out an enemy (keeping him or her under the water). Ah, ok, got it on keeping clear of sleeping sharks. I'm starting to think that's why the OP for that Dubai video was told to keep his bubbles clear of the shark if it passed overhead. Totally agreed with the turtle. As unlikely as it must be, turtle bite risk freaks me out. I grew up with big snappers in the ponds and lakes and even though I never knew anyone to get bit who was not asking for it (handling a large snapper) it messed with my head a little to know they were always down there somewhere ;). Loggerheads must be impressively large up close. Yikes... a mating season of any kind around males seems a good time to stay clear ;) Thanks again for all this experience. Now it's all saved here "forever" for folks to read! I think I ran into your partner on ScubaBoard this WE...

[@OffshoreITguy]

Sand tiger with deformed gums and a missing eye, you are correct sir.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

That one lived a hard life!

[@christianfrancke3609]

The upper jaw is dislocated.

[@jdcsteelers498]

Looks like a big ass shark though too

[@barbarathiago3096]

@@christianfrancke3609 why??

[@ZoeAlleyne]

@barbara thiago Could be from injury, but it also could be old age. Whatever is happening means that he currently cannot retract his jaw. A shark's jaw with bulge as they grab prey and it is usually able to retract. Hopefully it doesn't cause much pain.

[@shanedangers]

the shark's overbite always has me cracking up lol

[@electriceyeslide5959]

It’s really nice to see A NORMAL reaction from a scuba instructor. I’d watched this originally and was cringing. I’m thinking, that Shark can sense their hearts beating in their chest and there is no way that dude’s heart is pumping calmly. No damn way. I would have crapped my wet suit. That was insane and one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Hi EES. THanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. Appreciate the support. I heard from an aquarium worker in the comments that this shark is actually sleeping, which is why the briefing instructed not to let your bubbles disturb the shark if it swam above you.

[@electriceyeslide5959]

@@DiscoveryDiversTokyo Wow. Very interesting. I wouldn’t want to disturb it, LOL!

[@luisrodriguez8807]

That water would have been brown real quick.

[@19indecisive19]

Wow, that's completely horrifying I would explode directly in front of that shark from terror....

[@2122banks]

Lmmfao 😂😅😂🤣😂🤣 he's ready to walk on water lmmfao 😅😂 I don't care if that shark is sleep woke I'm getting the hell out the tank now you keep your ass down here 😭🤣😅😂

[@brucewilliams473]

The other fish are like, bite him Bruce, come on Bruce , bite that one, NOW DAMMIT !!! AWww , man we never get to play I'm leaving.

[@JadriannaLashae]

I laughed so hard at this comment

[@brucewilliams473]

@@JadriannaLashae Thank You, Bruce was the name of the shark in Finding Nemo, didn't know if anyone got it.Lol, but Thanks PEACE.

[@jonbenetporschien6198]

I think this shark is so CUTE !

[@mkstg12345]

They are a very docile species. That makes them perfect for something like this. You can swim with the scariest looking shark in world without being in any real danger.

[@1jazzyphae]

Even docile animals snap. Rule of thumb should always be if it has teeth it can kill anytime. Heck nah😭😭😭 people are too comfortable

[@jasminemason1174]

​@@1jazzyphaetheres actually ZERO instances of attacks from sand tiger sharks because their diet doesn't include large mammals. They are 100% safe to swim with even in the wild! I still wouldn't lol but it's less that they arent aggressive and more that their diet.

[@naiyo87]

​@@jasminemason1174false. A quick google indicates 36 recorded attacks. No fatalities though

[@robertsteinberger5667]

@@naiyo87 people say blue sharks, blacktips, copper sharks, hammerheads and sandtigers are not dangerous but some of those have killed people and ocasionally bite, also bite aquarium divers.

[@ariessweety8883]

I just seen a KZbin short on this video and I looked for more video on it and found yours. In the description of that Short it said that particular Sand Tiger Shark had missing eyes and a deformed jaw and would not have survived in the wild. Pretty WILD HUH LMAO And ABSOLUTELY NOT! I WOULD NEVER GET IN THAT AQUARIUM WITH THAT SHARK OR ANY SHARK FOR THAT MATTER 🙏

[@jessw8923]

Came here from a tiktok clip of this video and wanted to see the whole thing! It's so interesting. Also, someone there mentioned that the shark was ill at some point and developed lock jaw.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Thanks, Jess...I need to find out more about the condition of this shark's jaw...

[@elmo319]

I’ve dived there, infinite vis and shoppers is weird lol it’s only 30ft / 10m deep. The sand tigers usually swim around circling this tank so this is quite strange especially with the mouth like that, looks like something is wrong with it

[@treebrothersgamingandvlogs6004]

diver : that is a big shark shark : i know

[@getdavo1]

I think the size is a bit deceptive. With a wide angle lens like the one here, things even a bit closer to the lens ( like this shark most of the time ) look exaggerated in size.

[@ddacombe4752]

omg, too close for comfort

[@caveman7608]

I don’t know how shark react to something touching there nose or mouth but if they react badly then the guy made the right decision to give the shark space.

[@bismuthboss3902]

Hey Jim, I can't confirm if it's true or not, but I have heard elsewhere that the shark's strange upper jaw is due to it being broken (or otherwise injured)

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

That jaw for sure is traumatized in some way...

[@thelegend5243]

Sharks are beautiful intelligent creatures, I love them, I read a lot of books about them. But fuck that right off, The water is their territory for a reason.

[@tammyeldred2035]

Jim, I'm pretty sure that's a Nope shark.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Once again, we find ourselves in agreement!!!!!! 👍

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Tammy, have a read above. The "other" Tammy has some amazing insights into this video from her experience as an aquarium diver.

[@Stereostupid]

That's where the guy I thought this was fake for the longest time now

[@treebrothersgamingandvlogs6004]

diver : that is a big shark shark :

[@robertmeyer5438]

You couldn't pay me any amount of money to get into that tank with that shark even it was blind! l along with anyone else who's sane would be having nightmares for who knows how long.

[@ernestlcolemanjr]

I'll be doing this next month.

[@D00MMAST3R]

I don't know what species that is, definitely not a sand tiger though. It has black eyes, unlike a sand tiger but the jaws are really throwing me off on what it is.

[@LHoriginal]

It is a sand tiger, it has a deformed jaw and its blind

[@seraphim3923]

@@LHoriginal Yep

[@katiemaige4275]

The shark is yawning

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

😅

[@albertafarmer8638]

We thought that this is an artificial shark not even very realistic.... 1:57 I'd fly out of this tank higher than any dolphin!

[@jpburnez5655]

It is a fake shark!!!!! 😂 Have people seen all the type of crap like that shark are use in DUBAI for entertainment? 😂😆🫣😑🤣

[@albertafarmer8638]

@@jpburnez5655 I hope so!

[@sunnydennison3302]

Why don't know sharks eat the fish in there? Or do they realize they're captured

[@lghi0845]

Where’s the reaction? You kind of just replayed the original video and read the description from it. Tell me some facts and make me learn!

[@rororobertson]

That is not how sharks move at all...

[@Zdendakrup]

Isnt the mouth deformed cuz of the environment ? after all this shark belongs in ocean so that would be maybe it

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Not sure, Zdenek...I've never seems a deformation like this.

[@Melsincatuation]

When in doubt ....blame it on ..CLIMATE CHANGE!!! GO BRANDON!!! LOL

[@dom8151]

Seems to me the cameraman herded the shark straight at the diver. I'm an instructor too, and a commercial diver and have seen plenty of sharks. I still don't think this is a very good idea. I doubt any of the fish are thrilled about being in that tank so it seems a bit unfair to get in and splash about with them.

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

I"m with you on the moral ambiguity here...as for the shark behavior, and other poster told me that is how shark's sleep...she worked at an aquarium.

[@romaniaromancer]

The shark had lockjaw

[@nenaj1]

He’s lucky that shark is blind

[@rororobertson]

They don't float like that or open and close their mouths over and over like that.. good lord

[@rororobertson]

@B you " see" I'm not a diver!? Hahahaha I live on the coast of north Florida on the Gulf I " see" a lot too

[@trishannbell5508]

Do Ro, you are not very well educated for a diver. That is a Sand Tiger and they do in fact gape. All sharks done behave the same. His jaw is deformed, either from injury or birth, but it is deformed, but gaping is normal for this type of shark, period.

[@johnmontgomery2735]

Not sure but sure dies look fake to me

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Hi, John. It's the real deal. Have a look at Tammy's comment below. She used to work as a diver in a similar aquarium.

[@RoseteMonik]

Not fake

[@SkyTHEGuy]

Up it dies look fake lol

[@rororobertson]

Yep, and what aquarium would take on that insurance policy.. Don't think so

[@nenaj1]

@@rororobertson it’s real. This is in Dubai. I can’t believe this is even legal though. The shark has a deformed jaw and is blind. Rescued from the wild. I would leave that shit in the ocean.

[@Melsincatuation]

It looks.so fake

[@london9842]

Because it is

[@johneverest983]

Basking Shark

[@rachiddreamer7657]

It's actually fake shark hahah

[@michaeltate8797]

Tripofobia 😖😖😖

[@evineocleous7029]

Not support Aquarium ....so sad to see this video

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

Thanks for adding your thoughts, Evi.

[@wantedparts8256]

If you were to watch the original video there is a comment explaining every thing

[@DiscoveryDiversTokyo]

@@wantedparts8256 Hi, yes, I have a link to the original video in the description. There's some interesting new info in the comments below, specifically from Tammy, who used to work at an aquarium. She said this shark is sleeping. Have a look below. Very fascinating.

[@mikelee7876]

That's a fucked up looking sand tiger

[@JadriannaLashae]

The chances of a person getting attacked by a shark is 1 in 11.5 million. The chances of being killed by a shark is less than 1 in 264.1 trillion. So him thinking “I’ve seen this 300 times I’m good” isn’t exactly wrong. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_attack