When Lights Attract Unwanted Attention

In May, divers exploring a remote lagoon at Middleton Reef, off the coast of New South Wales, Australia, attracted some intense -- if uninvited -- attention from several large Galapagos sharks.

Moments after entering the water, a diver carrying a large video rig outfitted with bright lights became the center of a sudden frenzy. The sharks swarmed her, bumping and ramming her repeatedly. One even delivered a head-butt to her face. Remarkably, despite the aggressive behavior, none of the sharks bit the divers or even bared their teeth.

Experts believe the sharks may have mistaken the bright lights and rapid movement for signs of a feeding opportunity, possibly thinking the diver was another large predator that had secured a meal.

Footage captured from the crew's 40-foot sailing catamaran, Waves, shows just how quickly sharks can respond to underwater commotion. The dramatic video of the encounter is available here: https://tinyurl.com/2ebjc25z