“Bound by Curiosity: The Diver’s Unforgettable Encounter with a Playful Giant Beneath the Waves”
A Ruthless Predator
Understandably, Hauser was terrified. After studying the ocean her whole life, she knew exactly how aggressive, fearsome, and deadly tiger sharks are. They have the potential to grow up to 25 feet and weigh almost a ton. This dangerous man-eating shark is second only to the great white shark in fatal attacks on humans.
They can typically be found in the warm waters of the Pacific islands, but they aren’t like great whites which will bite and then retreat. These sharks hunt to kill, and one was coming right toward Hauser.
A Deadly Situation
Hauser was now surrounded by three unpredictable creatures, one of which was known to frequently kill humans. Now, she was far less concerned with her problems with the whales and all of her attention was now focused on the shark that could easily attack and kill her.
With few options left and only moments to spare, Hauser did the only thing that was left to do. She and her fellow researcher, a cameraman, made a break back toward the research boat.
Relieved To Be Alive
Everyone was relieved once the two divers managed to escape the shark and make it to the safety of the boat. As Hauser reached the boat, she warned the rest of the crew on board that there was a large tiger shark in the water.
Although exhausted and slightly bruised up, Hauser managed to pull herself onto the deck, thankful to be alive. After catching her breath, it suddenly dawned on her what the first humpback whale had been doing.
A Moment Of Reflection
After calming down, Hauser sat down and watched the footage of her whole ordeal in the water. It was then clear what the whale had been trying to do. It seems that the humpback had actually been trying to warn her about the shark and to get her out of harm’s way.
She reflected, “maybe the shark wasn’t going to attack me.” Instead, “he [the whale] was trying to save my life.” She had just been through a once-in-a-lifetime experience that had been incredibly frightening as it happened.
Saying Goodbye
Although Hauser was shaken, she was thankful to be safe and even more thankful for the whale that had been trying to protect her. While the whole crew was recovering from the ordeal, they couldn’t believe their eyes. The whale that had tried to save her surfaced next to their boat.
Most likely, the whale was checking in to be sure she was ok. It even gave a friendly spray from its blowhole before diving back in the water. Hauser yelled “I love you too” before the whale disappeared beneath the waves.
There Were Skeptics
Even Hauser admitted, “I’m a scientist, and if anyone told me this story, I wouldn’t believe it.” It wasn’t long before news of her incredible experience made headlines worldwide. Yet there were still some scientists who believed that what happened between Hauser and the whale was nothing short of impossible.
However, those same experts that claimed it wasn’t possible also didn’t fully rule it out. Hauser was confident that her footage proved that something amazing had occurred, something that she thought had never happened before.
An Experience Like No Other
For almost three decades, Hauser had conducted almost every kind of whale research. From population status and feeding behavior to migration patterns, she had done it all.
As she was so familiar with whales, Hauser was convinced that her footage was truly groundbreaking and captured a historical event. She believed that it showed the first-ever circumstance in which a humpback whale was trying to protect a human from a possible threat.
The Shark Wasn’t A Stranger To Those Waters
The news of Hauser’s encounter with the shark and whale spread quickly, especially in the local area. It wasn’t long before other fishermen and divers reported seeing the same shark that had been harassing Hauser and the whale.
Some other witnesses claimed that they’d seen the shark swimming near the reef and that it was nearly the size of a pickup truck. This made Hauser feel even more grateful that she had survived the horrifying dive.
Hoping For Change
Her footage of the whale and what it had been doing proved to be valuable research material for scientists and other marine biologists to study. However, there wasn’t footage of the entire experience, such as when the whale pushed her out of the water.
