If you’re not a fan of jaws, then this would have probably scared the life out of you!
While diving off the coast of Hawaii, divers encountered a massive, 20-foot female great white shark. Based on the shark’s size and markings, the shark is believed to be Deep Blue and one of the biggest on record, Agence France-Presse reported.
The divers spotted the shark, which is believed to be at least 50 years old and weighing an estimated 2.5 tons, on Tuesday while a group of sharks were feeding on a sperm whale carcass off the island of Oahu.
“We saw a few (tiger sharks) and then she came up and all the other sharks split, and she started brushing up against the boat,” Ocean Ramsey told the Honolulu Star Adviser.
Diver and photographer Kimberly Jeffries said she was one of two divers first in the water with the shark.
“It was an absolutely breathtaking experience, and really quite humbling to be in the presence of this great shark,” Jeffries said. “She is an absolutely beautiful and magnificent being that both commands and deserves respect.”
Pictures were taken of the shark and after consulting against a database; the shark was indeed confirmed to be Deep Blue by the Marine Conservation Science Institute, a non-profit group focused on conserving marine resources. Shark photographer George Probst, who runs the website Sharkpix.com, also weighed in and confirmed Deep Blue’s identity.
Discovery filmed a feature on Deep Blue back in 2014, making her the largest great white ever filmed. The Smithsonian says the average female great white shark measures between 15-16 feet, while males measure between 11-13 feet.
Ramsey also told The Star-Advertiser she believes the shark is also pregnant.
By: Maytinee Kramer