A volunteer diver filmed a great white shark in its natural habitat in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time [1, 2].

The footage provides rare evidence of the predator's presence in the region. This discovery highlights the biodiversity of the Mediterranean and the critical need for marine conservation efforts to protect endangered species from human-made hazards.

The encounter occurred in May 2026 [1] off the coast of Sicily, in the waters between Tunisia and Sicily [1, 2]. The diver was participating in a mission to recover lost fishing gear when the shark appeared. The video was subsequently released by the NGO Healthy Seas to raise awareness about the species and the health of marine ecosystems.

One shark was captured on film during the dive [2]. The footage is being hailed as a historic record, as it represents the first underwater images of a great white shark in this specific environment [1, 2].

"I had my fingers shaking," said the unnamed volunteer diver [1].

Healthy Seas used the footage to emphasize the vulnerability of the ocean. The organization said that the presence of such an apex predator indicates a complex food web that must be preserved from pollution and industrial fishing debris.

"It is the first time that we see a great white shark in its natural habitat in the Mediterranean," said a spokesperson for Healthy Seas [2].

Beyond the excitement of the sighting, the mission's primary goal remained the removal of "ghost gear" — abandoned nets and lines that trap marine life. The organization said that these images demonstrate the importance of protecting marine ecosystems [2].

“"I had my fingers shaking."”

The documentation of a great white shark in the Mediterranean suggests that the region may still support apex predators despite heavy industrial fishing and pollution. Because these sharks are often elusive or rare in this basin, such sightings provide scientists with critical data on migration patterns and population viability, while reinforcing the urgency of removing ghost gear that threatens these high-level predators.