A Vancouver Island diver has captured footage of a bluntnose sixgill shark during a dive off the coast of Parksville, British Columbia, describing the encounter as one of the most memorable of his nearly 1,200 dives.
Carl Sorensen was diving solo off Madrona Point, between Parksville and Nanoose Bay, on August 17 when he encountered the shark at around 100 feet (30 metres) while looking for giant Pacific octopus.
Sorensen said the shark appeared about five feet away from him with its mouth open and was moving directly towards him. He quickly started recording and was able to follow the animal for around three minutes before it moved away into deeper water.
The shark was estimated to be between 10 and 12 feet (3–3.7 metres) long. Sorensen described its movements as slow and methodical and said it did not display aggressive behaviour. At one point, the shark came close enough to bump its nose against the dome port of his camera.
The bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) is a deep-water species and is found in waters around Vancouver Island, but sightings by recreational divers are unusual because the sharks generally inhabit much deeper water.
Sorensen, who runs the Scuba Diving British Columbia website and produces underwater video around Vancouver Island, said he had never previously encountered a sixgill despite his extensive diving experience in the area.
The reason for the shark’s presence in relatively shallow water is unclear. Sorensen suggested it may have been in the area to mate, give birth or feed on octopus, but these were possibilities rather than confirmed explanations.
The encounter was filmed at the Madrona Diving Site, a location where Sorensen had been searching for octopus. After the shark eventually moved away, he completed his dive.
Bluntnose sixgill sharks have been recorded around Vancouver Island previously, including during other encounters with divers, but their deep-water habits mean close encounters such as Sorensen’s remain unusual.
Source: NanaimoNewsNOW / Global News
Read the original NanaimoNewsNOW report
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