One fisherman captured the encounter on his GoPro camera, earning an award for the footage. In the video, Johan Potgieter is spearfishing off the coast of South Africa. He is clearly experienced at the sport, adjusting his gear as he gets ready to go into the water. Johan gestures to the camera to come along, then grabs it. He dives down through the murky turquoise water until he sees the ocean floor. Holding his spear gun in front of him, he seems ready for a day of recreational fishing. All of a sudden, a Great White Shark swims into the frame just inches from Johan. He exclaims as the shark veers toward him. Fish scatter and Johan instinctively backs up in the water. These sharks are not common sighting in South African waters anymore, although they were once plentiful. There are some of the most aggressive sharks, however. Johan’s alarm at seeing one so close is very real. The shark swims off but its distinctive silhouette can still be seen through the water. Great White Sharks have rows of very, very sharp teeth and a long snout. They also have a dorsal fin that marks them as a shark and is one of their most recognizable features. This monstrous shark turns back toward Johan, who keeps his spear gun in the front and aimed at the shark. In the video, you can hear Johan screaming as he watches the shark approach, teeth first. He must be thinking that the shark is looking for some lunch and he’s on the menu. The shark turns away again, however. Johan doesn’t waste any time kicking with his fins up to the surface. “White! White!” he yells to those in the boat. Johan swims over as quickly as he can, trying to get out of the water before the shark returns to make a meal out of him. Glancing back into the water, the video shows the shark still swimming below Johan. He is clearly taking an interest in the man. Johan doesn’t want to stick around to see why, however. The boat comes over to Johan, who jumps on board. “He nearly ate me,” says Johan. But the man outwitted the shark and lived to tell the tale.
Is Stalking Normal Behavior for a Great White Shark?
Yes, stalking is completely normal behavior for Great White Sharks. A 2009 study suggests that great white sharks have common traits with human serial killers. They don’t attack at random, they prefer to stalk their prey from afar, lurking in the shadows just out of sight. You could say that great whites are the serial killers of the sea.
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