Diver captures first underwater footage of great white shark in Mediterranean during net removal
Volunteer divers cleaning abandoned fishing nets in the Strait of Sicily filmed an adult great white shark up close, in what is believed to be the first underwater video of the species in the Mediterranean Sea.
An unexpected encounter
During a May mission to recover abandoned fishing nets from a shipwreck in the Strait of Sicily, a team of volunteer divers came face to face with an adult great white shark. The animal, estimated at around four meters in length and accompanied by a dozen striped pilot fish, approached the group calmly. Derk Remmers, the Ghost Diving volunteer who captured the footage, described the moment.
My fingers were trembling as I tried to get the camera started. It was a really special encounter. The shark swam near us, moved away, and came back.
Remmers later told The Independent the shark seemed unthreatening.
He swam past us and then turned and faced us head-on, coming back. It was clear he was curious and not aggressive. He was very relaxed, as if he had the attitude that he is the boss down there. And when we started blowing some bubbles, he accelerated and disappeared into the blue.
A rare documentation
Although great white sharks are occasionally spotted from boats, Healthy Seas Foundation says this is the first time one has been filmed underwater by divers in its natural habitat. The video was released on World Oceans Day, 8 June 2026.
Moments like this remind us how much life can still exist in offshore Mediterranean waters and how important it is to protect it from preventable threats like abandoned fishing gear or overfishing.
- Divers encounter adult great white shark during ghost net removal in Strait of Sicily.
- Healthy Seas Foundation releases the footage on World Oceans Day.
Ghost nets: a hidden killer
The expedition aimed to remove abandoned fishing gear, known as ghost nets, which continue to entangle and kill marine life for years after being discarded. The team recovered nets from a shipwreck in the biodiversity-rich strait. Pascal van Erp, another diver on the mission, suggested the shark may have been attracted by dead animals already trapped in the nets.
A species on the brink
Scientists estimate only a few hundred great whites remain in the Mediterranean, where they are listed as critically endangered. Overfishing, illegal fishing and bycatch are primary drivers of the decline. The sighting, while rare, provides a valuable data point. Researchers collected environmental DNA samples during the expedition to analyse biodiversity around the wreck and gain insights into the shark’s presence.
Scientific and conservation value
Experts believe the footage could improve understanding of great white distribution and behaviour in the region, though more study is needed. The mission also included biodiversity monitoring. On World Oceans Day, Healthy Seas called on governments and the fishing industry to adopt stronger measures to reduce ghost gear, warning that volunteer clean-ups alone cannot solve the pollution problem.
