Ready for your close up? Diver survives tiger shark attack by fending off 12ft-beast with camera

By ALISON SMITH-SQUIRE

Attack: Diver Russell Easton has a lucky escape as his camera saves him from attack by a tiger shark

This is the terrifying moment a daring diver looked into the jaws of one of the world's most dangerous animals. Forced to fend-off the tiger shark with just his camera the adventurer came perilously close to the wrong kind of snap.
Conservationalist Russell Easton was photographing the 12ft beast in the Bahamas when he got the close-up he was not expecting.
The professional underwater photographer and diver says: 'I was looking through the view finder of the camera when I suddenly saw this huge mouth and teeth.
The 42-year-old professional underwater photographer and diver says: 'I was looking through the view finder of the camera when I suddenly saw this huge mouth and teeth.

Snappy: Russell Easton is saved by his camera equipment as the tiger shark goes in for the kill

'It is only because of the camera I was not bitten. Sharks bite because that is how they find out what something is - they use their mouth as we use our hands - and it had its mouth wide open, about to bite me.
“In that moment I managed to get one shot of the inside of its mouth. Thankfully sharks are attracted to cameras and bit that instead, giving me vital seconds to swim away.'

It was only afterwards I realised the camera had probably saved my life and how fortunate I was.' Despite his lucky escape, Mr Easton, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne maintains the shark was not trying to hurt him.
He says: 'I don't think he was attacking me. He was just curious and wanted to know what I was so was going to take a nibble to find out.

Close call: The snap caught by Mr Easton as he tried to fend the shark off with camera

The problem is a tiger shark's mouth is so large and it's teeth so sharp that if a shark takes a nibble out of you, the bite is so huge it is often fatal.'
Despite the close call the seasoned diver is due return to Cat Island, Bahamas to photograph sharks and is looking for a sponsor.

Escape: The tiger shark gives up the chase allowing this daring diver to make his lucky escape

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Pictured: The moment a fearless grandmother wrestles with a killer shark on a Dorset beach

By CHARLES WALFORD

Grandmother Jeanette Longley grapples with the blue shark after it was stranded on the beach

This is the dramatic moment a grandmother bravely grappled with a 6ft killer shark.
But rather than protecting her own life, Jeanette Longley was in fact trying to save the creature that had become stranded on a Dorset beach.
The 56-year-old gave no thought for her safety as she tried to move the floundering blue shark back into the sea.
Careful not to put her hands too close to the fearsome fish’s mouth, Mrs Longley wrestled with it in a bid to roll it down the shingle towards the water at West Bay, near Bridport.

The blue shark was alive when Mrs Longley helped it back into the sea, but there are fears it may have later died

But she twice ended up falling into the sea with the monster fish when strong waves knocked her off her feet.
Mrs Longley, a widow, eventually managed to get the shark into water deep enough for it to swim away by its own accord.
Blue sharks do live in UK waters but are usually found about 20 miles out to sea.
They have been known to attack humans and in 2009 there were 13 attacks on people around the world, resulting in four deaths.
Mrs Longley, from Bridport, said she gave little thought for her safety when she saw the struggling shark.

Mrs Longley said she acted because 'something had to be done'

She said: 'A friend and I were taking our dogs for a walk along the beach when we saw some people stood around an object on the beach.
'I thought I saw a dolphin at first but as we got closer I realised it was a shark.
'People were stood around watching but when I realised it was alive I decided to do something.
'It was thrashing about but it couldn’t get back into the water by itself.
'The only way to get it into the sea and save it was to roll it into the water.
'I didn’t really think about my safety or it biting me - it was just something that had to be done.

The 6ft shark was stranded on the shingle before Mrs Longley came to its rescue

'I was aware there were some people behind me on the beach and I was aware of some of them saying things like "careful it doesn’t bite you".
'It was very heavy and powerful and kept thrashing about. I kept losing my footing and was knocked over by the waves and into the water a couple of times.
'I suppose in hindsight that was when I was most at risk of it biting me but I am a good swimmer.

Picturesque: Mrs Longley wrestled with the shark on the water's edge at West Bay, near Bridport



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I'm having you ... for lunch: Awesome display of shark's power as it closes in on seal

By MARY MCCONNELL

Awesome power: The seal fails to escape from the great white shark off the coast of South Africa

In a breathtaking display of power and agility a seal tries to escape from the jaws of a great white shark seconds before it becomes lunch.
Travelling through the water at an incredible speed the tiny cape fur seal is dwarfed by the enormous shark, which is hunting off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa.
The incredible series of images show the constant struggle for survival for the animals that live on Seal Island in False Bay where around 12,000 seal pups are born each November and December.

Ocean battle: The great white shark attempts to grab the seal

Taken over three years by wildlife photographer David Jenkins, these pictures illustrate exactly why great whites are considered one of the world's most precision predators.
David, 39, said: 'I have travelled around many places in the world but this was the most incredible thing I had ever seen - it has to be seen to be believed. It's an awesome display of power and agility. When a shark suddenly explodes out of the water and you see it close up through the lens you get one hell of a shock.'

Lunchtime: The seal fails to escape from the jaws of the great white shark

'At the height of the season there can be between 30 to 50 sharks in the area, although you will be lucky to see more than five,' he added. 'Their hunting success rate is very high - almost 50.
'But the shark is up out of the water and back in less than a second, look the wrong way or blink and all you will see is a splash.'
Freelance photographer David, who also works for the African Lion and Environmental Research Trust in Zimbabwe, first witnessed the sharks breaching in 2009 and quickly became enthralled.

Jaws: This tiny cape fur seal tries to avoid becoming lunch for this great white shark

Shark attack: The seal makes a last ditch attempt to avoid being killed by the great white

Since then he has returned to the same spot year after year studying the interplay between predator and prey.
He said: 'If the shark manages to get the seal straight away then you are just stunned at how quickly it can happen and the power and speed and athletic ability of the shark.
'However, like any other life and death battle in the wild, if the shark misses on the first strike and the interaction between predator and prey can be observed, it is hard not to start cheering for the seal.'

The jaws of defeat: The shark finally gets its kill

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Who won the Jaws versus Killer Whale death match? Shark comes off second best

By RICK DEWSBURY

Predator: The fin of an orca breaks the surface of the water as it stalks the school of sharks close the shore

Swimmers might think twice about cooling off at this beach.
The normally placid waters were transformed into a spectacular feeding ground as a group of orca whales attacked a school of sharks.
The sharks had been swimming close to the shore on Boxing Day at the Blue Cliffs Beach in Tuatapere, New Zealand as the orcas - also known as killer whales - stalked them through the sea.
Moments later the hungry whales sent the feared fish scattering through the waves as they sprung their assault.

Tussle: Fins and tails flap into the air as the feeding frenzy beings at Blue Cliffs Bay in New Zealand

In a spectacular display of natural predators at work, the whales herded the sharks toward the shore to force them into shallow waters.
One shark desperate to escape from the enormous beasts even beaches itself on the sand. It is seen desperately flapping around in a bid to escape the whales, which were unable to move onto the sand.

Fierce: One of the killer whales moves through the water as the outgunned sharks are herded towards the sand

The incredible feeding frenzy was captured on film by residents who said they had never seen a display of such aggression from the orcas.
As witnesses gathered on the shore, one plucky dog couldn't resist trying to get involved and can be seen approaching the stranded shark before barking at it.
Eyewitness David Evans said he was told there were whales in the area and raced to the beach to record the spectacle.

Stranded: A shark flaps on the sand after deliberately beaching itself to avoid being eaten by the enormous beats

'We all piled in the truck and grabbed a camera, grabbed the video and went down to the beach and just started shooting,' Mr Evans told 3News in New Zealand.
It is thought that there were around six whales and six sharks in the water. Although one of the sharks had a nasty gash to its side, it's not known if the whales managed to catch their dinner.
'That particular [injured] shark had been beaten up by the orcas,' resident Tracy Thomas told stuff.co.nz.
'There were heaps of sharks just off the beach, swimming in towards the beach then turning around and going back out.'

Ruff justice: A dog belonging to a local resident ventures up to the shark to get involved in the action

The dog, known as Flea, walks around the defenseless shark which cannot go back into the depths as the whales are still lurking

Peter Robertson said his dog, Flea, had gone into the water when it became excited by what was happening.
He added: 'It would appear the whales were fighting the sharks ... the sharks were coming ashore because they didn't want to be in the water.'
Orcas are significantly stronger, faster, heavier and larger than even the most ferocious of sea beasts - the great white shark.
It is not known what species the attacked sharks were. However, they were much smaller than the orcas and would have come off worse in most clashes.

Orcas feed on seals, sea lions, large fish and sharks - although it is rare to see such a aggressive display of hunting so close to the shore.
However, the hunting tactics and prey species vary between different pods of orcas.
Jim Fyfe, a marine ranger at the Department of Conservation Otago office, said that sharks are 'well within the range' of orcas.

source: dailymail

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Shark that smiles for the cameras: Meet the fearsome creature that eats polar bears and can live until 200

By GARETH FINIGHAN



Killer with a smile: The Greenland shark might look friendly but the beast is known to attack polar bears



A daredevil photographer went to extraordinary lengths to photograph these rarely seen sharks, which look like they have been etched from stone.

These incredible Greenland sharks can survive for more than 200 years at depths of up to 600 metres under Arctic ice.

Bigger than the notorious great white, they grow to 23-feet long and are so fearsome they have even been known to eat polar bears.



Close encounter: The sharks can grow up to 23-feet in length - bigger than a Great White



They live further north than any other shark species and can swim in waters where temperatures plummet to just one degree celsius.

Doug Perrine had a close encounter with the elusive creatures when they ventured into the warmer waters of the St Lawrence River in North America, hunting for food.

The sharks usually eat large seals but have even been known to polish off polar bears and reindeer.

But 59-year-old Mr Perrine, from Kailua Kona, Hawaii, was brave enough to swim to just a metre away from the giants to get his shots.



Caught on camera: Greenland sharks prefer colder waters and can dive to depths of 600 metres



He said: 'These sharks were very placid and curious. They are much calmer than other sharks - they have an almost goofy, comical appearance.

'I was amazed because most sharks are very shy of divers and tend to avoid the sound of scuba bubbles, but these these were attracted to the sound. They even swam closer to investigate.

'When I moved in closer to get a better shot, they did not flee but continued on their way at a steady pace."



'The sharks are known to prey on large seals but I never felt threatened.'

Greenland sharks have been hunted by residents in Iceland and Greenland for centuries.

Their skin is used to make boots while their teeth are turned into cutting tools.

The flesh is part of the national dish of Iceland - called the hakarl.



source: dailymail

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There's no such thing as a free lunch... unless you're a whale shark! Planet's largest fish is caught on camera stealing lunch from trawler nets

By CRAIG MACKENZIE



Feeding time: A giant whale shark is caught having a feast of anchovies from the nets of fishermen in Indonesia



They may not have been invited to lunch, but no one thought of arguing with the giant creatures stealing fish out of the trawler nets.

These gentle whale sharks were captured on camera for the first time helping themselves to a meal.

The incredible shots show the 20-tonne mammals placing their mouths against the nets and sucking anchovies through the holes as boats fished in West Papua, Indonesia.



Eat up: Two whale sharks who normally dine on a diet of plankton, just can't resist the catch of the day



Underwater photographer Steve Jones spent five days documenting the special relationship that has developed between the sharks and the local fishermen who treat them as friends.

Steve, 40, from Wallingford, Oxon, said: 'The whale sharks are attracted to the local fishing platforms by the nets full of anchovies that hang under them.

'Many of the nets are in a poor state of repair and the sharks do not miss the opportunity for a free lunch.

'They use their cavernous mouths to vacuum the unfortunate fish through the holes in the nets.



Dining out: A fisherman watches as a whale shark opens its cavernous mouth and enjoys his lunch



'Yet rather than persecute these sharks for competing with them, the Papuan fishermen embrace their company during their long, lonely stints at sea.

'I witnessed the men swimming with the sharks on a daily basis and saw the smiles on their faces as they hand fed them left over fish at the end of the day.

'On one occasion a fisherman went underwater at night to cut a whale shark free after it had become caught up in the net.

"He subsequently lost his entire catch, yet the following morning he seemed only proud to have helped an animal that they believe brings luck.

'He cared little for the considerable risk he had taken, the animals are so big an accidental clip from a tail is like being hit by a small car.'



Caught on camera: A giant whale shark which has a mouth 1.5 metres wide containing between 300 and 350 rows of tiny teeth



The father-of-one added: "The behaviour shown by the whale sharks in the bay is incredibly unusual.

'These sharks are normally solitary, yet we witnessed them in groups of up to nine in one go, carefully avoiding any unwelcome collisions with either each other or us.

'Also, for the first time these species have been proven to be opportunistic feeders - they demonstrate there is no reason to miss the chance of an easy meal!"



source: dailymail

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Dog walker's shock as he finds 5ft blue shark on south coast beach

By EMILY ALLEN



Dead: The rare Blue Shark had a giant bite mark in its side, meaning it could have been killed by an even bigger predator in the English Channel



A dog walker was shocked to discover a five-foot killer shark washed up on a Sussex beach.

The rare Blue Shark had a giant bite mark in its side, meaning it could have been killed by an even bigger predator in the English Channel.

Walker Nikki Lambert showed her find on Camber Sands, East Sussex, to marine biologists who said it could have been attacked by a Great White.

She said: 'I could not quite believe it at first until I got a little closer.

'I have encountered driftwood washed up but not a shark.



This shark was discovered on double yellow lines in Aberystwyth in Wales last week after bring washed up following stormy weather



'I was told that the only animals who would attack a Blue Shark like this would be a Great White Shark or a Killer Whale.'

Blue Sharks, which can grow up to 12ft long, are not considered to be aggressive but they have attacked and killed humans in other parts of the world.



An estimated 20 million Blue Sharks are killed by fishermen every year.

Doug Herdson, of the Marine Fish Information Services, said: 'A blue shark of this size is a juvenile which should be on its way to south-west Spain or north-west Africa at this time of year.'

In Aberystwyth, Wales, last week bank worker Tom Huxley came out of a friend's house and was hit by they smell of rotting fish, but when he went to investigate he found the body of a 4ft blue shark lying inches from the road markings.

Mr Huxley, a former Aberystwyth University student, took a photo the fish outside the Gwesty Cymru hotel on 24 October.

It is not known how the shark came to end up on the road, but experts at Swansea University's Department of Bioscience believe it was washed up in recent stormy weather.

A six-foot specimen was washed up in Lewis, in the Hebrides, in September.



source: dailymail

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'It was just like Jaws': Angler on kayak is dragged half a mile out to sea after hooking 6ft SHARK off Devon coast

By STEPHANIE DARRALL

Catch of the day: Rupert Kirkwood had been fishing a mile off the coast of Ilfracombe, North Devon, in his 16ft kayak when he hooked the five-stone shark

A vet fishing from a kayak was dragged half a mile out to sea after hooking a 6ft shark.

Rupert Kirkwood, 51, was towed around for 15 minutes after a 70lb Tope after it took his bait and headed for the deep.

He had been fishing a mile off the coast of Ilfracombe, North Devon, in his 16ft kayak when he hooked the five-stone shark.


Hair raising: The angler said he had been sitting in his vessel for about four hours before he felt a huge pull on the line and his canoe 'suddenly shot off through the water'

'It was pretty hair-raising stuff. I had been sitting there for about four hours before I felt a huge pull on the line and my canoe suddenly shot off through the water.

'These creatures are known to do a runner and it's just like Jaws - the line flew off the reel. I just had to hold on and wait for it to tire. Eventually it did, and I was able to lean in the water and pull it on board.


The father-of-four, who also works as a farm vet, has been canoe fishing for around ten years and landed the beast using mackerel bait

'You have to handle them very carefully and I nestled my hand under the tail and pectoral fin before landing it.

'The weight was incredible. I had to be extra careful as one snap of the jaws and I could easily lose a finger or hand.

'It was thrashing around on the canoe before eventually becoming quite still.'


You're gonna need a bigger boat: The angler was towed around for 15 minutes by a 70lb Tope after it took his bait and headed for the deep


Scary: Mr Kirkwood described the landing like a scene out of Jaws. He said: ' I just had to hold on and wait for it to tire. Eventually it did, and I was able to lean in the water and pull it on board'

source: dailymail

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Riding their luck: 12ft Great White shark pictured in San Diego wave just feet away from oblivious surfers

By Paul Bentley

Lurking: The shark, furthest right, swims through the wave the surfers try to ride

As Labor Day weekend begins, many will be planning family trips to the beach.

Although, for those in San Diego, this picture might make them think twice.

A terrifying photograph shows the moment a Great White shark was spotted in a wave in Encinitas, California - just a few feet away from completely oblivious surfers.

Gary Elliott, a passer-by who took the picture on Wednesday was convinced he had seen a shark - and the claim has now been backed up by marine experts.


Lucky escape: The surfer did not even realise the huge shark was beneath him


'It looks pretty clear to me,' Mr Elliott told CBS8. 'It doesn't look like a surfer. It's not the silhouette of a board.'

The claim was initially disregarded by lifeguards at the beach.

Robert Veria said the photograph had, in fact, captured the moment a surfer duck dived into the wave with his or her knees bent.


Brave or reckless? Surfers continue to ride the waves in San Diego despite the sighting


But marine experts have since confirmed that the picture is most likely to be of a shark.

Ralph Collier, from the Shark Research Committee, told CBS8: 'In my opinion, we are looking at the tail end of an animal that is... 10 to 12 feet, maybe a little more.

Officials said despite the sighting the beach would remain open for the weekend.

The stunning image was taken as two-mile stretch of coastline in La Jolla was reopened yesterday despite three confirmed sightings in a week along the San Diego coast.

Huge: A surfer, top, catches a big wave in Newport Beach, California, yesterday

Dangerous: Fans came out to watch the daredevils ride the massive Californian waves


Beaches had been closed after several people spotted a 12 inch shark fin on Wednesday near the Children's Pool.

Fishermen also found a dead baby seal off the Ocean Beach pier with shark bite marks.

Another two mile stretch of beach in the area was closes last week after a lifeguard saw an 18 inch dorsal fin.

Fierce: The waves crashed down with huge force as surfers battled the conditions


The picture also comes as other astonishing images were taken of surfers hitting the waves in their droves in California yesterday despite being told to keep out of the water because of dangerous conditions.

Authorities issued warnings about waves pounding the central California coast that left a swimmer missing and caused a marijuana smuggling boat to crash onto a beach.

Lifeguards conducted dozens of rescues and the massive surf also caused some damage to the Ocean Beach and San Clemente piers.



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Swimmer torn to pieces in tiger shark feeding frenzy off Australian 'paradise island'

By Richard Shears


Fatal attack: A tiger shark, like the ones which attacked an killed an Australian swimmer off Fantome Island, Queensland


A holidaymaker has been torn apart in a feeding frenzy by a shoal of tiger sharks off a 'paradise island' in Australia.

The Melbourne man, known to his friends as Rooster, had set out with three others to retrieve a small boat that had broken free of its anchor off Fantome Island, lying 40 miles north east of the Queensland city of Townsville.

He failed to return from the evening swim to pick up the boat and his friends found his body the following morning.


Allan Jefferson, of Queensland's Emergency Management authority, said: 'Four of them went swimming out to the boat, three of them made it and the fourth one never got there.

'The person has gone into the water to retrieve the boat last night and has not returned.'

The builder, who has not yet been named, was taking a break with a group of friends when they decided to retrieve the small boat, the Townsville Bulletin reported.

Lynndel Prior, a resident on a nearby island, was one of the last people to see 'Rooster' alive when he stopped by to visit her family at the weekend.

She and her partner had formed a close bond with Rooster, adding: 'He and my partner Anthony both hit it off straight away and they became really close mates. So this news has obviously hit us pretty hard.

'It's hard to imagine how a day that started out so great could end up so tragic.'

Fantome Island is a haven for fishermen and campers.
The man leaves behind a wife and stepson.


The tiger shark can grow to a length of more than five metres. It gets its name from the dark stripes down its body, which fade as the shark gets older.


The adult sharks are usually solitary, night-time hunters, which suggests that the ones involved in the Fantome Island attack were younger sharks in a group.

The tiger shark is considered to be a near threatened species due to excessive fishing. It is second only to the great white shark for the number of recorded attacks on humans.


source:dailymail

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Just popped out for a bite? Great white shark leaps from the sea and lands... on the deck of a full BOAT

By Daily Mail Reporter

Wild: The half-tonne great White Shark thrashes around after jumping from the sea onto the deck of the marine research boat in Mossel Bay, South Africa


When a team of marine scientists began throwing sardines into the ocean they were hoping to get a closer look at great white sharks.

But little did they expect that they would come face-to-face with one of ferocious beasts after it jumped out of the water - and landed in their boat.

The wild three-metres long creature began flailing around on the deck snatching at the air with its razor-sharp teeth.


Beast: The crew of seven scientists wrestled with the predator in a desperate bid to throw it back into the ocean but they were unable to get it under control


The brave team had to wrestle the half-tonne predator until it could be tossed back into the water at a nearby harbour in Mossel Bay, South Africa.

'Activity around the boat ceased and all was pretty quiet at the stern,' team leader Dorien Schroder said.

'Next thing, I hear a splash and see a great white breach out of the water from one side of the boat hovering, literally, over a crew member chumming on the port side.'

Six members of Oceans Research organisation were collecting data on sharks in, 388km west of Cape Town, in a research project.

The seven-strong crew used sardines as bait to attract the predators and were able to observe four great whites, that are known locally for bursting through the surface as they prey on seals.

But the crew were taken by surprise when the killer fish leaped out of the water and landed on the boat's fuel and bait storage containers, the Cape Times reported.

The crew backed off, hoping the shark would find its way back to the water - but the creatures panicked, cutting fuel lines as it thrashed about.


Caring: A brave researcher grapples with the shark as he helps it back into the ocean


Freedom: Two of the shark scientists release the creature into a nearby harbour, only for the shark to beach itself a short while later and need yet more assistance


The scientists radioed for help poured water over the shark's gills to keep it alive. They even tied a rope around the shark's tail in desperate bid to haul it back onto the ocean


source: dailymail

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I've caught ... a shark! Angler reels in 170lb monster off Pembrokeshire coast

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Catch of the day: Wayne Little (right) poses with the 170lb blue shark before releasing it back into the sea


An angler has caught one of the most lethal shark species known to man after the fish arrived in their hundreds in British waters.

Wayne Little, 42, hauled in the 8ft blue shark off the holiday beaches near Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, last week.

Mr Little's catch came just months after he hooked in another blue shark which was so big it would have broken a British record had he not thrown it back in the water.

He used mackerel bait to entice the blue shark, one of many species which are believed to have been drawn to British waters because of the warmer weather.


Blue sharks have been seen in increasing numbers around the British coast and are believed to have been drawn here thanks to warmer sea temperatures


The warmer waters of the Gulf Stream in the South-West have made the Pembrokeshire coast is one of the UK's best spots for shark fishing.

According to shark experts, there are now 'hundreds' of blue and porbeagle sharks 20 miles off the South-West coast.

Blue sharks can grow up to 13ft long and have been known to attack humans.

Mr Little spent nearly an hour reeling in his latest monster catch, which weighed a whopping 170lb.

After getting it aboard, the shark thrashed about, so boat charter skipper Andrew Alsop sat on its head to stop it from biting them.

The pair then carefully lifted the specimen up for the camera - and captured the fish with a bizarre enigmatic smile on his face.


Hot spot: The warmer gulf stream on the Welsh coast has made places like Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire (pictured) one of the top places for shark fishing in the UK


After measuring its length and girth, they were able to calculate its weight at around 170lbs before throwing it back into the sea safe and well.

Wayne said: 'Blue sharks travel on the Gulf Stream and come up on the warm water.
'Sea temperatures off the South-West have warmed up in recent years and now we are getting a hell of a lot of them out there.

'You are probably talking about hundreds of blue sharks, if not 1,000, about 20 miles off the South Wales coast.

'But not a lot of shark fishing goes on in our waters and so nobody really realises just how many there are here in the summer months.'


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