As shark sightings become more frequent off the coast of Sydney, a local spearfisher, Dean, experienced a remarkable encounter with a 2.5-metre great white shark at Maroubra. His close encounter, filmed on his GoPro, captured a tense yet fascinating interaction as both the hunter and the hunted observed each other for an intense 3½ minutes.
On Tuesday afternoon, seeking tranquility in the ocean, Dean found himself in the presence of the curious shark, which had been attracted to his catch. Despite the initial fear, he experienced a mix of admiration for the creature’s beauty and apprehension, instinctively slipping into survival mode as the shark circled him.
After a moment of hesitation, Dean decided to confront the shark directly. He dove towards it, hoping it would swim away, which it did momentarily, turning broadside. In an attempt to assert his presence, he extended his speargun towards the animal, but the shark remained unfazed, continuing to swim closely by him. Realising things were escalating, he later jabbed the gun into the shark’s snout, signalling it was time to retreat.
Once back on shore, Dean expressed clear relief, acknowledging the thrill of survival, and his heart was racing from the encounter. He notably remained calm throughout, only feeling unsettled when he lost sight of the shark. Interestingly, a local receiver had pinged the same tagged shark just ten minutes before Dean’s close encounter and it had been lingering in the region for days after migrating from Stanwell Park.
Dean plans to share the footage of this extraordinary meeting with the Department of Primary Industries. Reflecting on the experience, he commented on the importance of standing his ground in the face of such an apex predator, despite its clear dominance in their interactions. Yet, he managed to retain the salmon that initially drew the shark in, revealing with a grin that he intended to enjoy it for lunch later.