Dive guide Fabian Clinton came face-to-face with a great white shark in Bali. Read about his unforgettable underwater encounter near Nusa Penida.
Diving in Bali is already pretty awesome, but for Fabian Clinton, a dive guide with over 1,300 dives under his belt, his latest dive near Nusa Penida turned into something straight out of a movie: a face-to-face encounter with a massive five-meter-long great white shark.
It was just another day in the water as Fabian led a group of seven divers off the coast of Nusa Penida, famous for its cool underwater vibes and regular visits from manta rays and mola mola. But Fabian’s expert instincts kicked in when he noticed colder water—a thermocline—which often means big creatures could be lurking nearby. Naturally, he decided to check it out.
What happened next? Pure magic.
“I was hanging out near the reef when I saw this giant shadow coming closer. When it got near, I realized it was the ultimate big boss of sharks. I had to film it—no way anyone would believe me otherwise,” Fabian says.
Seeing a great white shark in Bali? Super rare. The last time anyone spotted one near Nusa Penida was six years ago. So when Fabian saw this beauty, he knew it was special. Things got even crazier when the shark did a quick turn and swam straight toward him.
“I’ve always felt pretty chill in the water, but this time I was like, ‘Oh man, this is intense.’ For a split second, I even thought, ‘Sorry, Mom,’” Fabian laughs. Thankfully, great white sharks usually aren’t interested in humans, and this one seemed more curious than anything else.
The waters around Nusa Penida are famous for their strong currents and cold upwellings, which sometimes bring big predators like great whites closer to the surface. Even though these sharks almost never show up here, it’s a reminder that the ocean is full of surprises.
“We’re not really on their menu,” Fabian explains. “But animals are like people—some are chill, and some are a bit more intense. This one wasn’t aggressive, which gave me the chance to soak in the moment.”
Fabian managed to capture the whole encounter on video, and it’s been blowing up ever since. Divers and marine life fans from all over can’t stop talking about it.
“The video is everywhere now. It feels like everyone on the island knows what happened. It’s something I’ll never forget,” Fabian says.
After the dive, Fabian and his crew celebrated in style with some beers and delicious Indonesian food.
“Usually, divers get a little jealous when someone sees something epic, but this time everyone was just super happy for me,” he says.
This wild encounter is a reminder of how amazing and unpredictable the ocean can be. It’s also a call to protect marine ecosystems so incredible animals like great white sharks can keep thriving.
Thinking about diving in your trip to Bali? Nusa Penida should definitely be on your list. You might not run into a great white shark, but with its stunning reefs and incredible marine life, it’s always an adventure waiting to happen.