Diver Captures Rare Footage Of Great White Shark In Mediterranean Sea

A diver who filmed an incredibly rare encounter with a great white shark in the Mediterranean in May has described the moment as “very special”.

Volunteer diver Derk Remmers told the BBC: “The shark was very close to us (…) and even my fingers were shaking when I tried to work the camera.

Overfishing is thought to have contributed to its near extinction in the Mediterranean.

The shark, believed to be an adult male, was spotted several miles between Tunisia and Sicily, and scientists say people need not worry.

Environmentalists say they believe the sighting could encourage governments to create marine protected areas in Mediterranean waters.

Divers working for the NGO Healthy Seas took the footage while diving to highlight the problem of so-called “ghost fishing nets”.