Calm Dive Turned Into a Frightening Encounter
On Monday, May 12, 2025, two divers exploring the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland, Australia, experienced a tense and unexpected moment when a group of sharks began circling them.
The encounter was captured on an underwater 360-degree camera, recording every second of the close call.
The Video
In the video, Stephanie Lee was holding the camera as she swam, when suddenly one of the Galapagos Whaler sharks darted towards her.
Startled, Lee splashed and moved quickly in reaction to the approaching sharks.
Sharks Attracted to Camera and Movements
Dean Cropp, who was diving alongside Lee, later shared on Instagram that the sharks were believed to be drawn to the camera and its lights.
When Lee splashed, trying to keep the sharks away, it seemed to only make them more interested.
Cropp explained that the sharks likely saw the splashing as a sign that Lee was a bigger predator who had caught something, which made them want to get between her and the camera to claim a share.
Quick Thinking and Support Helped Calm the Situation
As the situation escalated, Cropp swam over and reached out to steady Lee by holding her shoulder.
He maintained eye contact with the sharks as they continued circling nearby, while Lee held onto him tightly until the sharks eventually lost interest and swam away.
Cropp described the moment as “a crazy and exciting few seconds” and said that Lee clung to him “like a Sea Otter” while she caught her breath.
According to reports from PetaPixel, about five to six Galapagos Whaler sharks circled them during the few intense seconds of the encounter.
Watch the video here:
@abcnews A diver captured the terrifying moment sharks attacked a camera his friend was holding while they traversed a reef in Australia’s Coral Sea. The woman was unhurt in the incident. #abcnews #news #shark
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