Benoît Girodeau never expected his dive to turn dramatic. The reggae-dancehall artist, known as Natty Gong, was swimming off Mauritius. Suddenly, an oceanic whitetip shark moved towards him. Just as danger loomed, two sperm whales came to his rescue.
Shark Confronts Diver, Whales Step In
The oceanic whitetip, a known predator, swam towards Girodeau. The shark showed unusual curiosity and moved aggressively closer. Out of nowhere, two massive sperm whales intervened. They blocked the shark and positioned themselves around Girodeau.
One whale went after the shark, keeping it at bay. The other dived deeper, staying between Girodeau and the predator. The shark tried to return, but the whales stood firm.
Whale Bites Shark’s Tail, Forces It Away
In an unexpected twist, one whale bit the shark’s tail. The sudden attack made the shark retreat into the depths. Girodeau captured the entire encounter on camera.
He later shared the video on Instagram, describing the event. “The whale chased the shark with its mouth open,” he said. “The other relayed the message to keep it away.”
Oceanic whitetips are considered one of the more dangerous sharks. They are known to attack shipwreck survivors and divers. Experts say they are persistent and unpredictable in their behaviour.
Sperm whales, on the other hand, are generally peaceful. They are the largest toothed whales and can dive deep. While no official cases confirm their protective nature, encounters like this suggest it.
Girodeau was left in awe of the whales’ actions. “The shark tried returning, but I was well guarded,” he said. “Both whales came back to surround me again.”
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