August 8, 2012 at 3:42 pm

Rare Underwater Photos of a Shark Attacking a Marlin

by twistedsifter

underwater photos of mako shark attacking marlin 1 Rare Underwater Photos of a Shark Attacking a Marlin

 

 

The original goal was simple. Tag the striped marlin for scientific research, and make an instructional video that demonstrates the proper way to release a marlin after tagging.

Things were going smoothly. The marlin had been successfully tagged (1 of 2500 as part of the New South Wales Game Fish Tagging program, the largest of its kind in the world) and photographer/angler Al McGlashan was now underwater capturing some great closeups for the instructional video, just like the one below.

 

 

underwater photos of mako shark attacking marlin 2 Rare Underwater Photos of a Shark Attacking a Marlin

 

Al decided to swim about ten feet from the boat for some distance shots and different angles. That’s when everything changed.

 

 

underwater photos of mako shark attacking marlin 3 Rare Underwater Photos of a Shark Attacking a Marlin

 

 

Seemingly out of nowhere, a 10-ft, 600-pound Mako shark appeared and it was feeling peckish. The shark instinctually went for the tail as biting it off immediately disarms big fish like marlins, swordfish and tuna.

 

 

underwater photos of mako shark attacking marlin 4 Rare Underwater Photos of a Shark Attacking a Marlin

 

 

Just like the shark’s natural instinct was to go for the tail, Al’s photographer instincts had him reaching for the shutter. He snapped away, feeling a slight sense of security knowing that the shark was totally zoned in on its target and everything else was inconsequential.

 

 

underwater photos of mako shark attacking marlin 5 Rare Underwater Photos of a Shark Attacking a Marlin

 

 

As the shark claimed its meal, Al made his way quickly back to the boat. Blood was now in the water and that sense of security he had moments before was quickly fleeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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6716826195 96edacb597 b Rare Underwater Photos of a Shark Attacking a Marlin

 

 

 

 

great white shark 1 Rare Underwater Photos of a Shark Attacking a Marlin

 

 

 

 

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