Volunteer technical divers from the Healthy Seas Foundation captured what is believed to be the first underwater footage of an adult great white shark in the Mediterranean [1, 2, 3].
The sighting provides critical evidence of the presence of these apex predators in the region. It also highlights the ongoing dangers that industrial fishing and discarded gear pose to marine biodiversity [1, 2].
The encounter occurred in the Strait of Sicily, located in the central Mediterranean between Italy and Tunisia [1, 2, 3]. Divers were not searching for sharks at the time; they were working to remove abandoned "ghost" fishing nets from a shipwreck [1, 2, 4].
Ghost nets are discarded fishing gear that continues to trap and kill marine life. The footage emerged in reports dated June 8, 2026 [1, 4]. The rarity of the sighting was emphasized by the emotional reaction of the team involved in the recovery operation.
"My fingers were trembling," said an unnamed diver [4].
While great white sharks are known to inhabit the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, confirmed underwater sightings of adults in the Mediterranean are exceptionally rare. The Healthy Seas Foundation focuses on cleaning the ocean floor to protect species from entanglement in synthetic netting [1, 2].
“My fingers were trembling”
This sighting confirms that adult great white sharks are navigating the Mediterranean, suggesting the region remains a viable, though precarious, habitat for apex predators. The fact that the shark was filmed during a cleanup operation underscores the intersection of conservation efforts and biodiversity discovery, proving that removing anthropogenic waste is essential for the survival of rare species.
