Hero Divers Rescue Two Sharks Trapped In Abandoned Mooring Lines In Maldives
Two sharks were rescued after divers discovered them trapped in abandoned mooring lines at the Shark Tank dive site in Hulhumalé, Maldives.
Watch the dramatic rescue HERE!
The video captures the rescue of one of the two sharks.
Emilio Mignoli shared the details of the rescue directly with World Animal News:
“A boat battery issue delayed our dive by an hour that morning. Jumping into the water as soon as we descended to 25 meters at Shark Tank dive site (Hulhumalé), we realized nothing happens by chance: we found two sharks completely trapped in abandoned mooring lines and one of them was suffocating.
“One was lying motionless on the seabed, the other suspended in mid-water, seemingly lifeless. Proceeding with caution, with the help of Suju (@feekanfaiymiyaru) and Mark, I managed to get close, cut the ropes, and free them both. Watching them swim back out into the blue to rejoin their shiver was pure euphoria! A few minutes later and they wouldn’t have survived.
“Our message: To anyone fishing: Never abandon lines or nets—they turn into invisible deadly traps.
“To fellow divers: Don’t stay passive. If you have the experience to do so safely, act to protect our oceans and their creatures.”
Following the rescue, one of the sharks initially sank to the bottom before recovering and eventually swimming back into the open ocean.
Abandoned fishing gear, lines, and other marine debris can pose a serious threat to sharks and other marine wildlife, which can become entangled, injured, or unable to move freely.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, more than 350 species have been found entangled in marine debris, with derelict fishing gear posing the greatest entanglement threat to wildlife.
Thanks to the quick actions of Mignoli and his team, both sharks survived and were able to return to the open ocean. Their rescue is a powerful reminder of the difference a compassionate act can make for animals in need.
