Please read before commenting. I recently posted a video of me seemingly being attacked by a shark while spear fishing invasive lionfish. (Which I stated in the video description as inaccurate) Here is the spear cam footage from that video. Shown first at full speed then reduced to 10% speed. You can clearly see a fishing hook and steel leader line stuck in the sharks mouth. I have been watching this shark for a couple of months now and she seems oblivious to the hook in her mouth but does gets quite irritated by the leader line that scratches her body. I really want to remove the hook but I don't wear chainmail and I am not trained to do it. But... I will find a way! Not happy with the initial purchase on the lionfish the shark then turns to the camera mounted on my sling handle. This shark was in a heightened state of investigation and investigating to see if my camera was a lionfish. This shark could have easily took my hand off it it wanted to but it didn't. Because it was not interested in me at all but more interested in the potential meal that the spear represented. I firmly believe that sharks possess object recognition and have incredible memories and problem solving capabilities. Although I fully acknowledge that they are wild animals and deserve my respect. If I push limits I will get bitten.
Reef sharks are such an amazing species to work with. Their sense of spatial awareness and reaction skills are incredible. The key to understanding them is to slow the footage down. I dive with these sharks every day so please do not try this yourself. I ONLY spear invasive lionfish on a sling. I do not spear ANY other fish at all. Another great day at the office.