Rare white shark filmed underwater in Mediterranean for first time

Volunteer divers undertaking a shipwreck cleanup operation off the coast of Sicily had an exceptionally rare encounter with a white shark. While removing abandoned fishing nets, the divers were approached by the Mediterranean's most elusive and endangered predator. The shark, observed with apparent curiosity, circled the divers before calmly swimming away. This encounter, recorded by volunteer diver Dirk Reimers, is thought to be the first underwater footage of an adult white shark in the Mediterranean Sea.

While white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are classified as 'vulnerable' globally, their population in the Mediterranean faces a critical risk of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). No attacks on humans by white sharks have ever been recorded in the Mediterranean. These apex predators primarily feed on tuna, swordfish, rays, and other shark species.

The rare sighting occurred in the Strait of Sicily at a depth of 40 meters. Reimers, a volunteer technical diver and head of the German branch of Ghost Diving, described the moment as both shocking and awe-inspiring. He noted the immense size of the animal and its calm, curious demeanor, stating it seemed like the "boss down there." The shark accelerated slightly before disappearing into the blue after the divers released some bubbles.

This documented encounter is considered invaluable for studying the species in the Mediterranean. Dr. Carlo Catafano of the Marine Centre of Sicily highlighted that most knowledge about Mediterranean white sharks comes from deceased individuals caught in fishing activities. Observations like this significantly improve understanding of the distribution, habits, and behavior of this critically endangered species. The cleanup operation, organized by Ghost Diving in collaboration with the Healthy Seas Foundation and the Submerged Cultural Heritage Documentation Company (SDCC), aimed to remove 'ghost nets', abandoned fishing gear that poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems by continuing to trap and kill marine life.