Large shark's sudden close approach scares divers

Divers in Belize were conducting a 3 minute safety stop, a necessary step before returning to the boat. This is crucial for expelling nitrogen in the diver's blood which can cause serious injury. They were surprised by the sudden appearance of a nine foot long reef shark who took a sudden interest in one diver's feet. The shark abruptly turned and came up right under the diver. His shock and fear is obvious as he tries to pull his feet up and away from the shark. The animal makes a few more passes, moving quickly among the nervous divers. Most encounters like this are due to curiosity and not aggression, but when it was so unexpected, these divers were very happy to see the shark swim away!