Divers from the UCD Sub-Aqua Club got the surprise of a lifetime on a recent dive in Broadhaven Bay — a diving destination on the west coast of Ireland. As divers Gavin Ó Briain and Davy Lynn were nearing the end of their dive, one of them noticed a silhouette of a shark heading their way.

According to a report by Coast Monkey, the divers were experienced enough to recognize the figure as a basking shark. One shark quickly became two and these divers were lucky enough to able to capture the once-in-a-lifetime experience on video.

When asked about the experience, Gavin said, “It was without a doubt the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen underwater and probably in my life.”

FACTS ABOUT THE BASKING SHARK
1) The basking shark is the second-largest fish in the ocean, after the whale shark.
2) The basking shark inhabits all oceans of the world, but it prefers the subpolar seas.
3) It’s unknown how many pups a female basking shark carries when she is pregnant.
4) Despite their large size and threatening appearance, basking sharks are not aggressive and are harmless to divers and snorkelers.
5) The most impressive feature of the basking shark is its mouth, which opens up to 3 feet wide.

More About Basking Sharks