A diver had a near-death experience when a shark attempted to bite his head in a video that has been causing alarm among viewers.
The ocean’s depths can be intimidating due to the inability to see what lies beneath, prompting many to avoid it altogether.
Divers, however, accept the risks involved, especially if they neglect to adhere to safety protocols.
A report from Divernet states that a Chinese diver narrowly escaped death when a tiger shark approached him at a renowned dive site in the Maldives.
The incident reportedly took place on 15 November at a location known as Shark Tank on Hulhumale, a reclaimed island near the capital, Male.
The group opted not to use a local dive center and instead arrived at the site by speedboat.
They are alleged to have used bait to attract sharks, despite shark feeding being prohibited in the Maldives.
This decision backfired as a shark came dangerously close to biting a diver’s head. The diver reportedly needed over 40 stitches, though his current condition is uncertain.
The diver was said to be wearing an orange, fish-shaped neoprene headgear resembling ‘Nemo,’ which might have confused the shark and triggered the attack.
Previous incidents have shown that divers not following regional rules can suffer severe injuries, with some even facing fatal consequences, as noted by Divernet.
A video of the incident is circulating on social media, and some Reddit users have expressed their intentions to avoid entering the ocean, a sentiment many can empathize with.
One user remarked on the diver’s immediate reaction, saying: “For folks that don’t know that’s scuba hand signal for time to get the f*** out.”
Another commented: “TIGER SHARK?!?! “They are one level below bull sharks in terms of aggressiveness, and they went in with bait and fish-esque diver costumes????? “This almost became a r/ Darwinawards post. That guy is lucky to be alive!”
A third expressed: “Yeah, after that experience there’s no way I would go in the ocean again. Hell I wouldn’t even take a bath.”
Another added: “I’m not interested in meeting anything in the wild that has a mouth my head could fit in.”