I had a startle with a Great White Shark on November 3rd, 2026. We were diving at Birchy Head, down about 14m, when I noticed, in the distance (~40-foot vis and 10°C), a large shape heading fast towards me. When it was about 30-25 feet away, I realized it was a White. It had its pectoral fins down and its back arched, coming straight at me fast, about 2 feet from the bottom. While it was travelling towards me, I kept my camera out to keep something between me and it, kept eye contact and made myself appear large while staying on the bottom, in hopes it would realize it doesn’t want me. When it came within ~6 feet, it finally pulled up and went right over my head (~2 feet away) and towards my dive buddy. Since I knew my buddy wasn’t looking in the right direction, I reached out and put my camera between them and the shark, for it to then bump my camera and pull off into the distance. I signalled to my dive buddy that there was a shark and we needed to head into the shallows. So while keeping close to the bottom, we made our way to the shallows (2-1.5m) and headed for the exit. During which our heads were on a swivel, trying to stay calm and avoid making any sudden movements.
I would also like to mention that though this encounter was a little closer than I would have liked, it took off right when it realized we were not food. Im sure this has happened to many of us, and we just haven’t realized it. While diving in the tropics, it’s something we deal with and expect, and now it’s something we just have to deal with and expect here. This is their ocean, and we are just visitors.
During the encounter, I focused on the moment and on my body language, as the shark looked hungry. But I subconsciously held down the shutter button on my camera and got a few not-so-good photos to help tell the tale, which are below.
First time I have heard of a case like this in NS. I like how calm the story is. I think the hysteria over whites is less than it was. More people are aware of them and more educated about sharks since Jaws.
As Steve said in a book review one time, there is a wilderness in MA, even if most do not see it. Same here.