Disturbing video has surfaced showing a great white shark trying to squeeze into a cage with divers inside at Mexico’s Guadalupe Island. (Warning: The video contains graphic footage.)
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Mexican activist Arturo Islas Allende shared the video to his social media platforms under a title that translates to “Negligence kills white shark.” He implicated a Nautilus Dive Adventures vessel and complained that cage openings were not adjusted in a manner to keep sharks and divers safe.
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The divers, who were clearly frightened as the massive predator writhed after getting its head stuck in a cage opening, were not injured. It remains unclear whether the shark, in fact, perished after its ordeal.
Nautilus Liveaboards had not responded to inquiries about the incident, which occurred in October, at the time of this post.
Guadalupe Island is seasonal home to dozens of adult great white sharks and regarded as one of the world’s premier shark-diving destinations. In typical situations, crews on the vessels will pull baits toward cages so divers in cages can photograph the apex predators in close quarters.
Crews are not allowed to feed sharks, and cages must meet specifications set by the Mexican government.
Michael Domeier, president and executive director of the Marine Conservation Science Institute, has conducted extensive shark research at Guadalupe Island. Many sharks are identifiable based on distinctive markings and are part of an expansive database.
Domeier told For The Win Outdoors that the shark in the video is named Stouffer.
Domeier declined to guess why the shark tried to get inside the cage, but added: “It doesn’t look to me like the bait was too close. For some reason that shark wanted what was in the cage. It hit the cage, backed up, then charged again. It could have turned and swam away.”
–Images and video are courtesy of Arturo Islas Allende