A diving and snorkeling group based in Fuvahmulah has captured rare footage of an oceanic whitetip shark breaching the surface of the water.
The oceanic whitetip shark, known locally as Fee Miyaru, was spotted leaping out of the water like a dolphin on July 30 by a team from Pelagic Divers Fuvahmulah during a trip between Fuvahmulah and Huvadhu Atoll. The group managed to record the extraordinary event on video.
While it is known that oceanic whitetip sharks are capable of breaching, witnessing such behavior is exceptionally rare. This is because the species typically inhabits the open ocean, far from coastal areas. There are very few documented instances of this shark species breaching.
This may be the first time an oceanic whitetip shark's breach has been recorded with such clarity on video. The sighting was made by Ahmed Inah, Ali Ansaaru Ahmed, Ahmed Rameez, Luca Asshauer, and Gonzalo Araujo of Pelagic Divers.
The observation has now been formally documented in the journal Pacific Conservation Biology.
In an interview with Discover Wildlife, published by BBC Wildlife, Inah described the group's amazement at the sight. He noted that they witnessed the shark breach twice.
Scientists have yet to determine the exact reason why oceanic whitetip sharks exhibit this behavior. Some suggest it may be a form of communication, while others believe it could occur during hunting.
However, the observers in the Maldives suggest a different motivation for this incident. At the time of the breach, a remora fish was seen attached to the shark. The team believes the shark may have been leaping out of the water in an attempt to dislodge the hitchhiking fish.
