Dalhousie Student Captures Stunning Great White Shark Photo Off Halifax Coast
Halifax, NS – A marine biology student from Dalhousie University has shared a remarkable photograph of a great white shark, taken during a recent research expedition near Halifax. The image, captured by Geraldine Fernandez, depicts a male great white shark rising from the water with it’s mouth open and teeth exposed, appearing to look directly at the camera.
The encounter occurred off the coast of Sambro, a fishing community within the Halifax Regional Municipality, aboard a boat operated by Atlantic Shark Expeditions. Fernandez,who aspires to be a shark biologist,described the interaction as “elegant,graceful,and natural,” emphasizing the shark’s curiosity rather than aggression. She noted that the shark seemed to be observing the people on the boat and in the cage, challenging common perceptions of sharks as mindless attackers.The photograph, initially shared on social media, drew comments suggesting it might be AI-generated due to its striking clarity and composition. Though, Fernandez explained that the image was taken with a camera attached to a pole. The shark was being monitored from a cage above,where Fernandez was positioned,and also by divers in the water.
Neil Hammerschlag, founder and president of Atlantic Shark Expeditions, highlighted the uniqueness of this particular encounter. He stated that while his company has observed several great white sharks this season, this individual was unusually engaged with the research equipment. Unlike other cautious sharks, this one remained for hours, showed no interest in bait, and actively interacted with the cage, rubbing against it and observing the people.
Fernandez, who has harbored a lifelong captivation with sharks, is currently a summer research student with Dalhousie’s Future of Marine Ecosystems Lab. Her work involves collecting data for a new shark monitoring method utilizing a “shark bar” to measure shark size. This close encounter has further fueled her passion for shark research and exploration, which she described as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Atlantic Shark Expeditions regularly collaborates with researchers like Fernandez and also offers shark tours for the public in Halifax and Yarmouth at various times of the year.
