A group of divers experienced an extraordinary encounter off El Hierro: at a depth of just 12 metres, an approximately four-metre shark swam past them. The large female remained nearby for several minutes without significantly closing the distance to the group. For an animal normally associated with much deeper water, this was a remarkable appearance in a shallow coastal area.
@elhierrohoy Un tiburón solrayo de unos cuatro metros vuelve a dejarse ver en aguas de El Hierro.
♬ sonido original – El Hierro Hoy
Canarian Weekly reports that the encounter took place at the Baja Rosario dive site in the Mar de las Calmas. The site lies near La Restinga on the south coast of El Hierro. Eight people were in the water on the recreational dive when the female appeared at around 1:40 pm on Wednesday.
Six to seven minutes with the shark
Jon Morán of the Buceo La Restinga dive centre said the shark remained near the group for about six to seven minutes. The animal did not swim towards the divers; it kept its distance and eventually moved back into deeper water. This calm scene is precisely what makes the sighting so interesting: it shows a large wild animal in its habitat, without hunting, feeding or any deliberate attempt to attract it.
The dive centre described the encounter as a great gift from the ocean. At the same time, the team confirmed that a female shark of this species had returned to the Mar de las Calmas in August. The sharks most recently observed in the area had left again around the middle of September the previous year. A single encounter cannot show whether, or for how long, the current female will remain around El Hierro.
Why a depth of 12 metres is so unusual
The smalltooth sand tiger (Odontaspis ferox) is a large shark that is seen only rarely. Many records come from considerably greater depths. An approximately four-metre animal appearing at a regular dive site in just 12 metres of water is therefore especially striking. The sighting does not, however, mean that the species now remains permanently in shallow areas. It documents one animal at one place and time.
The shallow site gave the eight participants an unusual opportunity: unlike many deep-water observations, they could see the shark under normal recreational diving conditions. Encounters like this can also be valuable for photo-identification and scientific reporting when images, date, location and observed behaviour are documented carefully. A spectacular moment can then contribute data about the species’ habitat use.
Known return visitors in the Mar de las Calmas
The species is not entirely unknown in southern El Hierro. According to the information summarised in the report, documented sightings in the region date back to 1965. A photo-identification catalogue helps observers recognise individual sharks when they return. Morán himself had previously encountered the species in the waters around the island in 2019 and 2025.
The sharks’ apparent site fidelity to the Mar de las Calmas is particularly interesting. This does not mean that they remain at the same dive site continuously. Rather, the same individual sharks can return to the region after a period of absence. According to information from the Canary Islands Government cited by Canarian Weekly, this behaviour is especially evident among female sharks.
For researchers, these repeated appearances offer an opportunity to compare individual sharks over longer periods. Distinctive body markings, scars and fin shapes can serve as natural identifiers. The more sightings that can be assigned reliably, the better researchers can assess when the animals appear and which areas they use.
Keeping your distance is the most important rule
Dive instructors Jon and Carmen paired their excitement about the sighting with a clear request: divers should never follow, approach or otherwise interfere with one of these sharks. The responsible response is to remain calm, give the animal space and an unobstructed route, and not force a closer encounter for a photograph. This is especially important when a rare animal attracts many curious observers.
The female kept her distance during the encounter and eventually swam into deeper water. There is no reason to interpret this dramatically: the observation involved neither an attack nor a threatening approach. It was a rare and peaceful wildlife encounter. Responsible conduct by the group ensured that an exceptional dive did not become a burden on the shark.
El Hierro as an observation site for large sharks
With its protected coastal section and volcanic structures that descend rapidly into deeper water, the Mar de las Calmas offers very different habitats within a small area. This makes the region especially attractive to divers. The latest sighting is also a reminder that a popular dive site forms part of the habitat of rare marine animals.
If the female appears again in the coming weeks, further documented observations could help researchers understand her stay more clearly. The aim should not be to get as close to the animal as possible. Reliable details, clear images taken from an appropriate distance and reports submitted to the relevant monitoring or research organisations are what matter.
The Baja Rosario encounter is impressive because several unusual circumstances came together: a very large female, a depth of only 12 metres and several minutes of observation time. It was an exceptional dive for the group. For research into the species around El Hierro, it adds another piece to a long but still incomplete record of sightings.
