Diver Removes Knife from Shark's Head in the Cayman Islands

Most of us think of sharks as monsters, lying in wait to chomp on unsuspecting divers. In reality, though, most sharks aren't interested in humans at all.

Brett Johnson, a diving instructor in the Cayman Islands, was teaching a group of students last week when he spotted a shark near the reef with a large knife sticking out of its head. "I realized something was wrong and went to take a closer look," Johnson told a local news station. Up close, there was no mistaking it: someone had tried to harm the one-meter-long shark with a knife.

"It stopped right beneath me as if asking for help," Johnson said.

The diving instructor carefully removed the knife from the shark's head. The knife, he mentioned, was about 12 inches long. Although a hole remained in the shark's head, it seemed unfazed: once the knife was removed, it swam away.

Why wasn't Johnson afraid the shark might thrash and hurt him? He explained that it was a slow-moving and gentle species native to Cayman's waters, feeding only on clams and coral from the reef.

It's unclear who harmed the shark: shark hunting is strictly forbidden in the Cayman Islands, and violators face imprisonment and a $500,000 fine. "That was my main concern when I saw the knife," Johnson explained. "Sharks are a vital part of our ecosystem."

The local news station reported that tourists on the beach were particularly shocked. People visit the Cayman Islands to enjoy pristine beaches or manage secret bank accounts; they don't expect to encounter an injured shark. The good news? A few days later, the Cayman Coast Guard reported that the shark with the hole in its head was seen swimming vigorously and seemed to have completely recovered.