A chance encounter with a Six Gill Shark in just 30 feet of water was a remarkable surprise to 3 divers just finishing a technical diving course at Whytecliff Park, Vancouver, BC. Instructor Greg McCracken captured the moment on his GoPro just as the divers were swimming along the sand.

It’s interesting to note that Sixgill sharks are typically found in deep, cold waters and reside at depths ranging from 600 – 6000 ft. Seeing one of these animals at 30 ft is a rare occurrence! During the summer months occasionally they can migrate to shallower depths ranging from 100 – 500 ft. for a variety of reasons but sightings by divers are few and far between.

Due to the elusive nature and deep sea habitat of these sharks more research needs to be done to learn more about their behaviour and ecology. The sixgill shark, also known as the cow shark, is a deep-sea shark that belongs to the Hexanchidae family. They are considered mesopelagic and bathypelagic species, which means they primarily reside in the twilight zone and deeper regions of the ocean. These sharks can be identified due to several distinguishing attributes such as a primitive looking streamlined body, possessing only one dorsal fin located further back on its body and having six gill slits (most sharks have five). Colour can range from tan or brown to grey.