Woman Swims Alongside 20-Foot Great White Shark, And The Whole Thing Is Caught On Camera

Mar 12, 2019 by apost team

Most of us do our best to avoid sharks when we swim in the ocean, but for one woman swimming with a 20-foot great white shark was a dream come true.

Ocean Ramsey, a 32-year-old marine biologist, had the thrill of a lifetime when she encountered a great white shark on a recent dive.

Ramsey is not only a marine biologist but also a shark conservationist and dive tour operator. She was diving with other conservationists, in an attempt to study tiger sharks, when the enormous great white appeared.

Ramsey and her team were diving near a whale carcass off the coast of Hawaii. They hoped the rotting whale would draw hungry sharks to the area, but they didn't expect to see a great white. Great white sharks usually avoid the warmer waters near Hawaii's coast.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Ramsey said a pod of dolphin approached the whale carcass accompanied by the great white shark.

apost.com

The video shows Ramsey swimming alongside the massive shark. At one point, she even reaches out to touch the magnificent creature. The shark seemed unbothered by Ramsey and the underwater photographers.

Ocean Ramsey believes the shark she encountered was "Deep Blue," the largest documented shark in the world. Deep Blue is a mature female shark with distinct scars on her torso, exactly like the shark Ramsey swam with.

The last confirmed sighting of Deep Blue was in Mexico, so it's entirely possible that the shark migrated to Hawaii. Great White sharks have been known to travel 20,000 miles in a single year.

Ocean Ramsey said the once-in-a-lifetime experience took her breath away, but not everyone is happy about the viral video footage.

Some experts are condemning Ramsey for swimming so close to a great white shark. They believe she is encouraging dangerous behavior. We live in a time when people will do anything to get an Instagram worthy photo. Swimming in close proximity to one of the ocean's largest apex predators is incredibly dangerous. It also creates an unhealthy environment for the shark.

Despite some negative coverage of her experience, Ocean Ramsey hopes to use the video footage to raise awareness about ocean conservation. Do your friends love sharks? Everyone should see this amazing video footage.