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The waters that surround the islands that comprise Hawaii are home to more than 40 unique species of shark, and one snorkeler who was taking what was supposed to be a relaxing dip off the shore was recently filmed getting uncomfortably up close and personal with one of them.
Hawaii is overflowing with natural wonders that are the primary reason it attracts close to 10 million tourists from around the globe each year, but it could also be described as the Australia of the United States thanks to the slew of deadly and dangerous animals that call the gorgeous habitat their home.
If you wade into the water while taking advantage of the 750 miles of coastline Hawaii has to offer, you need to keep an eye out for eels, venomous snails and sea urchins, jellyfish (particularly of the box and Portuguese man o’ war variety), stingrays, and, of course, sharks.
Hawaii was second only to Florida when it came to the states with the most shark attacks in 2023 (it recorded eight unprovoked bites with one of those leading to a fatality), and while those incidents are rare in the grand scheme of things, there’s always a slim chance you attract the attention of a collection of species that includes the great whites, hammerheads, and tiger and bull sharks known for their aggression.
There are also plenty of smaller (and comparatively chill) reef sharks in Hawaii that are usually content to let humans do their thing, but I have a feeling most people who find themselves in their vicinity would react in the same manner one guy who was snorkeling in the shallows of Laniakea Beach Park on Oahu did after a bystander on the shore informed him the predator was making its way towards him.
I have to give him credit where credit is due for waiting a few seconds before frantically paddling back to the beach, and I can’t say I blame him for ripping his flippers off and calling it a day as soon as he got back to shore.