In fact this is one of the first recordings of Great White sharks by scuba divers this far north in the western Indian Ocean. This particular animal was apparently 4 metres (13 feet) in length and as can be seen from the photographs was certainly curious of the divers.

	Definitely curious and definitely a Great White! Photographer to be identified!

  Quite what a Great White is doing in such warm waters is hard to say, however the sharks are regarded as subtropical, occurring between 60°N - 50°S latitude and listed as being found, even if rarely, in both Mauritius and Seychelles by Fricke in his book 'Fishes of the Mascarene islands' (Koeltz Scientific Publications).

  Like the whale shark, Great Whites are ovoviviparous, the embryos are retained inside the mother feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother. Unlike the whale shark they have been implicated in attacks on humans who they apparently mistake for their normal prey such as seals.

  The notoriety of Great Whites fostered by Hollywood and the film “Jaws” has lead to a lucrative market for white shark products that encourages illegal hunting and trading that is difficult to assess and control. The species is listed on CITES Appendix III, since May 2003 but this has little effect in controlling local fisheries and the limited population data available indicates that the abundance and average size of white sharks is in decline. The species is now protected in some parts of its range but the effectiveness of such protection is questionable where enforcement is weak.

The business end of the White! Not to be mistaken... Photographer to be identified!

 Diving with Great Whites in South Africa has become a booming  eco-tourism industry and adds significant value to live animal as well as improve it’s P.R! 

But are there Great Whites in Mauritius...send us your views!