oceanramsey/InstagramThat’s not a shark, this is a shark.
Hate to use the old knifey-spooney line, but did you see the size of that?
The divers that spotted what could be the largest great white shark ever recorded are using their experience to push for legislation to protect the incredible creatures in Hawaii.
Ocean Ramsey and Juan Oliphant from One Ocean Diving and Research spotted the 20-foot shark on January 15 not far from a dead sperm whale off Oahu, Associated Press reports.
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said it was aware of the photos and tiger sharks have also been feeding on the whale.
Oliphant, who took the stunning images of the shark, said it’s unclear if it’s the famed Deep Blue, believed to be the largest great white ever recorded.
He said:
She looks the part right now. Maybe even more exciting that there is another massive, you know, super-size great white shark out there. Because their populations are so dwindling.
Ramsey, who runs One Ocean and Diving Research with Oliphant, has been pushing for legislation that would ban the killing of sharks and rays in Hawaii, and hopes it will become law this year.
The images of her swimming next to a huge great white shark prove the predators should be protected, not feared, she said.
Unlike other forms of marine life, sharks are not a federally protected species.
However, you shouldn’t be throwing on your swimwear to go and get a closer look, especially when the sharks are chowing down on some good old whale carcass.
Ramsey said extensive training and time spent studying shark behaviour has kept her team and customers safe. She teaches people about how to act and, more importantly, not act when they encounter a shark in the water.
One Ocean Diving observe behaviour, identify and tag sharks, and share data with researchers as well as state and federal officials. She said she’s previously swam with the giant sharks on trips to Guadalupe Island, Mexico. She also leads cage-free shark diving tours (no thank you very much).
Ramsey added:
There’s not a lot of sympathy for sharks because of the way they’re portrayed in media and they don’t have the cute cuddly appearance.
You can’t hate them for being predators. We need them for healthy marine ecosystems.
Oliphant said:
The idea that they see people as a food source, that is rubbish and that needs to go away because really that’s ultimately leading to the demise of these animals.
People have been warned to stay out of the water around the dead whale.
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Tim Horner is a sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated with a BA Journalism from University College Falmouth before most his colleagues were born. A previous editor of adult mags, he now enjoys bringing the tone down in the viral news sector.