Mike Coots, 43, took a series of breathtaking photos of Great White sharks swimming meters away from him in the waters off the coast of Guadalupe Island, Mexico. An incredible photo shows one of the sharks hiding its prey from behind as the fish panicked and tried to swim away from the predator. Coots, despite losing his right leg in a tiger shark attack when he was 18, remained steadfast and managed to visualize the shark as it launched its attack. An incredible – yet terrifying – photo shows one of the sharks hiding its prey from behind as the fish panicked and tried to swim away from the predator Mike Coots, 43, took a series of breathtaking photos of Great White sharks swimming meters away from him in the waters off the coast of Guadalupe Island, Mexico Other photos taken by Coots show great white sharks emerging from the depths of the ocean, with shards of sunlight illuminating the sharks’ bodies “I was photographing white sharks in a shark cage and this shark had just lost a bite from a piece of tuna,” Coots said. He added: “This photo shows both the beauty and the mind of such a powerful creature. It’s like looking at a living dinosaur. “You can feel his energy and their eyes have the most incredible depth to them and the shade of blue in them. Mike Coots, 43, took a series of breathtaking photos of Great White sharks swimming meters away from him, despite losing his leg when a tiger shark attacked him when he was 17 in 1997. “You can feel their brain processing who you are and you can feel that energy. It’s awe-inspiring.’ Other photos taken by Coots show great white sharks emerging from the depths of the ocean, with shards of sunlight illuminating the sharks’ bodies. The 1997 shark attack in Kauai, Hawaii, which left Coots with one leg, did nothing to dampen his love of the ocean. Not only did Coots continue to surf after the tragedy using a prosthetic limb, but he has become an activist campaigning for shark conservation. “I lost my leg to a tiger shark surfing when I was 18,” Coots said. “I have become a strong advocate for their protection and use my images and the power of social media to share why they are important in the ocean and how beautiful they are. “You often find yourself so wrapped up in both the photographic process and the presence of such large animals that you often forget the exact moments you are capturing. “It’s only when you download them to your computer and see what you have that it can leave you speechless.” He added: “I hope people see something uniquely different in my images. I studied shooting people in art school and I use the same techniques and lens as I would when shooting a person. “I look for moments of expression and I love how the light refracts in their eyes. “I think if you can see a little bit of yourself in these photos, it might inspire you to learn more about them and in turn protect them. “We need sharks for a healthy planet, as they play an essential role in the marine ecosystem.” Coots, despite losing his right leg in a tiger shark attack when he was 18, remained steadfast and managed to visualize the shark as it swam towards him with its jaws open. Other photos taken by Coots show great white sharks emerging from the depths of the ocean, with shards of sunlight illuminating the white undersides of the sharks
The great white shark is known for its impressive size, growing to over 20 feet in length and weighing around 5,000 pounds.
They can reach speeds of 16 miles per hour for short bursts and swim to depths of 3,900 feet.
Several years ago, Coots was approached by the Pew Environment Group asking him to join a campaign aimed at stopping shark finning.
In his capacity as an ambassador for the organization, Coots has traveled to the United Nations and the US Capitol to speak in favor of shark conservation. In 2010, his efforts paid off when Hawaii became the first state in the nation to pass a ban on the possession and sale of shark fins.
Coots’ harrowing story of survival has been told many times in the decades since the attack, including a Discovery Channel documentary called Shark Fight that premiered in 2012 to mark the 25th anniversary of the network’s popular Shark Week.
In October 1997, the then 18-year-old Coots was bodyboarding in Major’s Bay on Kauai’s west side when a tiger shark suddenly surprised him, swimming up from the depths “like a submarine” and sinking its jagged teeth into his right leg. .
The terrified teenager repeatedly hit the fish on the head until it finally freed its limb and swam away, the Huffington Post reported in 2012.
Coots and a surfer friend who was with him at the time began to paddle back to shore when the teenager felt a spasm in his right leg and realized that the shark had cut off his leg with almost surgical precision.
A semi-conscious Coots was loaded into a truck and rushed to a local hospital.
As he lay in the back of the vehicle, he recalled seeing blood gushing from his wound and pouring out the tailgate like a waterfall.
Doctors were able to save his life, but Coots ended up losing his right leg at the calf. The teenager, however, was so relieved to have survived the terrifying ordeal that he felt blessed rather than angry.
While recovering from his injury, Coots developed a passion for photography, which he later turned into a successful career.
Once on his feet, Coots returned to the ocean without a moment’s hesitation. He chose to go surfing for the first time since the attack not far from where he was bitten.
“I remember the first time I got back in the water… I remember jumping into the ocean and it felt great,” she told the site.
