A diver has captured what is believed to be the first underwater footage of an adult Great White shark in the Mediterranean Sea. Derk Remmers, one of three divers from the NGO Healthy Seas, encountered the massive predator while removing abandoned fishing nets from a shipwreck in the Strait of Sicily, between Italy and Tunisia.
Rare Encounter in the Strait of Sicily
The team was on a mission to recover so-called ghost nets when the shark appeared nearby. Remmers described the moment: "We saw this huge shark. It was pretty clear it was a massive one. It looked and appeared to be a white shark." The sighting is considered extremely rare, as Great Whites are now critically endangered in the Mediterranean.
First Underwater Footage of an Adult
While surface sightings have occurred, conservationists believe this is the first known underwater footage of an adult Great White in its natural Mediterranean habitat. Remmers admitted his hands trembled as he filmed, saying his biggest fear was missing the opportunity to record the event.
Conservation Message
Remmers hopes the footage will not spark fear or calls for hunting, emphasizing the shark was many miles offshore, far from beaches. "It is important to me that no one gets scared because it was offshore... it was not close to a beach where people could feel endangered," he said.
Threats to Mediterranean Great Whites
Once more common, Great White shark numbers have plummeted due to overfishing and accidental capture. The Shark Trust notes that the Mediterranean population is distinct from Atlantic sharks and critically endangered. Paul Cox, CEO of the Shark Trust, called the video "exciting," suggesting the species may still hold a foothold in the region.
Last Stronghold Under Pressure
The waters between Sicily and North Africa are a last stronghold for Great Whites, but research by the Blue Marine Foundation shows they are still caught and sold in North African markets, with at least 40 killed last year. The Mediterranean faces severe pressure from overfishing, warming waters, and invasive species, with over 75% of fish stocks fished beyond ecological limits.
Veronika Mikos, director of Healthy Seas, highlighted the significance: "What makes this encounter so powerful is not only the shark itself, but the context in which it happened. We were there to remove ghost nets... Moments like this remind us how much life can still exist in offshore Mediterranean waters."
