Hawaii Diver Swims Alongside the Largest Great White Shark Ever Recorded

She’s the world’s largest known great white shark. At over 50 years old, she may even be a grandma. One marine biologist got up close and personal with the massive and surprisingly peaceful shark named Deep Blue. Read on to learn the fascinating story of this majestic great white shark.

Deep Blue: The World’s Largest Known Great White Shark

Deep Blue was first spotted in the 1990s. However, it wasn’t until 2013 that underwater photographers caught her on video swimming around Guadalupe Island off Mexico’s Baja California peninsula coast. But that wasn’t the video that made her famous. When Deep Blue was filmed in 2015 during the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, it quickly went viral. In the video, a marine biologist inside a shark cage had a close encounter when the large shark swam up and nudged his cage.

Deep Blue is recognized by her length. She is 22 feet long, much longer than the average 15-foot great white. She is also identified by her distinct markings across her body. Researchers estimate that Deep Blue weighs around 2.5 tons, which is about as heavy as a rhinoceros.

Another Sighting in 2019 Off the Coast of Hawaii

Marine biologist Ocean Ramsey had an incredible encounter with Deep Blue in 2019. Ramsey was diving off the coast of Hawaii with her research team, studying tiger sharks. A YouTube clip from “The Today Show” shows Ramsey swimming alongside Deep Blue and even touching her. Deep Blue had been feeding off a sperm whale carcass, which was located nearby.

The shark was serene and peaceful, swimming amid the divers. Ramsey told the Today Show that seeing Deep Blue made her feel “overjoyed to be approached by this big, beautiful, massive, I think grandma shark.” She also shared, “It fills my heart with joy and takes my breath away.”

The massive shark looked even larger than usual. This led many experts to believe Deep Blue may have been pregnant at the time.

Ocean Ramsey Wants to Change People’s Perceptions About Great White Sharks

Ramsey also shared with “Today” that despite the joy, her moment with Deep Blue was heartbreaking. She said, “Moments like this are increasingly rare because shark populations are being wiped out.” Ramsey also said, “It’s just so sad that so many people around the world seeing her would think ‘monster’ and want to kill her because of movies like ‘Jaws.’

Although the Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is the leading species for unprovoked shark bites, shark attacks are incredibly rare. According to the International Shark Attack File, there have been 351 total great white shark unprovoked attacks since the early 1500s. Out of those, 59 were fatal. In 2024, the total number of shark attacks for all species worldwide was only 47. This is a small number when you think of the millions of people swimming in the world’s oceans every year. And also, consider the number of sharks that surely pass near unsuspecting swimmers.

What Was the Controversy Following Ramsey’s Video?

Ramsey’s video did meet with controversy when some researchers criticized her behavior during the encounter. Shark researcher Michael Domeier said on Instagram that it was “selfish, self-promotion” to touch the shark. Domeier also pointed out that following Ramsey’s video, many divers took to the water near the dead sperm whale, hoping to have their own encounter. But the extra divers in the water may have scared Deep Blue and all the other sharks feeding on the whale away.

Ramsey responded via Instagram, saying, “I know some people criticize touch, but what some don’t realize is that sometimes sharks seek touch.” She continued, “She [Deep Blue] swam away escorted by two rough-toothed dolphins who danced around her over to one of my shark research vessels and proceeded to use it as a scratching post.”

Are Great White Sharks Endangered?

According to the State of Hawaii, great white sharks are rarely seen in the waters around Hawaii, where tiger sharks are more predominant. Unfortunately, the IUCN Red List classifies great white sharks as vulnerable with a decreasing population.

Sharks evolved millions of years ago and are older than even dinosaurs and trees, but today, they face increasing dangers from fishing, habitat loss, and climate change. The World Wildlife Federation (WWF) explains that great white sharks are hunted for their fins and teeth. They’re also a popular trophy for sports anglers. Sadly, the great white can be caught and killed as bycatch in fishermen’s nets or entangled in meshes that protect beaches.

What Will Happen if an Apex Predator Like the Great White Vanishes?

Great white sharks are apex predators at the top of the food chain. It would be a loss for such a majestic and fascinating animal to go extinct. It would also devastate the ecosystems in which they live. When an apex predator disappears, the animals they prey on overpopulate. The resources available are unable to sustain the increased numbers, which causes a decline in the numbers of other species in the ecosystem as well.