In 2018, Dan White was working on his deep diver certification when he came across a whitetip shark.
At first, it seemed like a harmless encounter. Having recently seen three sharks without issue, he confidently started filming.
However, as the chilling YouTube footage shows, things took a terrifying turn.
When the Shark’s Behavior Changed
Several German divers joined White’s group in the water. Suddenly, the shark’s behavior shifted.
“As I was filming, I noticed that one of the outlet diver’s bubbles spooked the shark and it turned to investigate,” White told Tracking Sharks in 2018.
The Attack Caught on Video
The video captures the moment the shark moved towards the divers, closing in on one of them. In a horrifying sequence, the shark bit into the diver’s leg, latched on, and began thrashing violently.
Recalling the terrifying moment to BBC’s Why Sharks Attack, White described the attack:
“It bit into the diver’s leg, latched on, thrashed around, and ended up going over almost like a cartwheel. It was crazy, it wouldn’t let go for what felt like forever.”
The shark completely tore off the diver’s calf muscle, biting all the way down to the bone.
A Disturbing Sound Underwater
As blood filled the water, another diver let out a piercing scream.
“There was a big plume of blood in the water. Another diver started screaming—you could hear her scream, a shriek noise in your ear,” White recalled. “It’s horrifying to listen to.”
Despite being 10 meters underwater, the scream was still audible in the video.
The Aftermath of the Attack
Following the attack, the injured diver was rushed to the surface. His dive team quickly applied a tourniquet and gave him pain medication before getting him to shore. Miraculously, despite the severity of the injury, his leg did not need to be amputated.
Expert Weighs In
An experienced diving instructor commented on the footage, shedding light on why the situation escalated so dangerously:
“Most of the people in the water were likely new to the sport. Many divers have poor breathing techniques, inefficient movements, and lack situational awareness.
They often rely on their hands to move rather than proper diving techniques. If you are in the water with sharks, it’s usually no big deal.
But if you encounter an oceanic whitetip or a bull shark, you must be ready. The shark in this video moved in aggressively, and the group should have stuck together to discourage it.
Oceanic whitetips are scavengers and are usually found in deeper waters, so it’s surprising to see one in such shallow water.
If you ever encounter one, the best strategy is to group together and make yourself look as large as possible.
These sharks are highly aggressive and among the most dangerous species. I live in Hawaii and regularly dive with tiger sharks, but I still consider oceanic whitetips and bull sharks more dangerous because their movements are unpredictable.”
Shocked Reactions Online
Viewers on YouTube were horrified by the footage, with many expressing their shock in the comments:
- “Very scary footage.”
- “Wow, absolutely terrifying.”
- “The most chilling part of this is still being able to hear the screaming underwater.”
A Haunting Experience
Years later, Dan White is still haunted by what he witnessed. What started as a thrilling dive turned into a life-altering moment—both for him and the diver who was attacked.
The graphic footage serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking beneath the ocean’s surface, even for the most experienced divers.