Dalhousie Student’s Stunning Close Encounter with Great White Shark Near Halifax

A Dalhousie University student had a rare and awe-inspiring encounter with a great white shark off the coast of Halifax on Wednesday. Geraldine Fernandez, a marine biology student, captured a stunning photo of the shark during a research expedition near Sambro, a rural fishing community in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

A Unique Interaction with Nature

She continued to explain that many people mistakenly view great white sharks as mindless attackers. In her experience, the shark was merely curious, calmly observing the people on the boat without showing any aggression. “I just got really lucky that day,” Fernandez said.

The Shark’s Curious Behavior

The encounter has since sparked significant attention on social media, with some questioning whether the photo was digitally created. However, the photo was taken by a camera attached to a pole, with Fernandez stationed in a cage above the water. The shark was monitored both above and below the water.

Neil Hammerschlag, founder of Atlantic Shark Expeditions, called the encounter “extremely unique.” He noted that while other great whites encountered earlier that season were cautious, this particular shark lingered around for hours. It showed no interest in the bait, instead exploring the cage and observing the people on board.

“This one stuck around for hours,” Hammerschlag said. “It was more interested in looking at the cage, rubbing up against it, and watching what people were doing on the boat.”

Fueling Passion for Shark Research

For Fernandez, this close encounter only fueled her passion for sharks and marine biology. Her childhood fascination with sharks has blossomed into a research career, with her current work focused on monitoring shark populations using a tool called the shark bar, which measures the size of sharks in the water.

This encounter, which she described as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” reinforced her commitment to continue her research. “All it’s done is just put more drive in me to continue my research and continue with shark exploration,” she said.

More…

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/close-encounter-with-great-white-shark-near-halifax-sparks-awe-disbelief-1.7600371
• https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6852238
• https://www.pressreader.com/canada/cbc-edition/20250803/281530822086439?srsltid=AfmBOoptzrviCJ06yZKi68B4sp_3Dzbk5p0aXOnJ_CsX7htLcMNUE3N0