Freediver slips into blue water when large shape emerges from depths

Slipping into the crystal blue waters off the coast of Jupiter, in Florida, Captain John Moore sees a large finned shape emerge from the depths.

It's a bull shark.

Rather than feel afraid, Moore is exhilarated.

Captain John Moore free-dives with bull sharks four times a week. This large bull shark was spotted with a large gash down it's mouth.

The ocean-lover works for tour operator Florida Shark Diving and free-dives with the apex predator four times a week – on average.

With camera in tow, he's providing a unique snapshot of the feared species.

He told 9news.com.au bull sharks are one of the most misunderstood animals on the planet.

With camera in tow he's providing a unique snapshot of bull sharks, one of the most feared species of the deep. However, Moore says bull sharks are 'misunderstood' and often calm in clear water.

"Bull sharks have a reputation as a fierce and aggressive predator but in clear water, I find them to be one of the easiest sharks to interact with," he said.

"They are very intelligent, calm, and an absolute pleasure to spend time with.

"They are definitely a very misunderstood predator."

In 2022, this encounter with a large female bull shark went viral. Moore says he believes the animal was pregnant.

In 2022, Moore had an encounter with a very large female bull shark – measuring more than 2.4-metres and over 315 kilograms – that went viral.

He says it was "a very memorable encounter on a long list of memorable moments".

"It came up from the deep ledge and obviously dwarfed the other bull sharks we had around at the time," he said.

"She was calm and confident and fed the food I offered with minimal hesitation. She clearly didn't view me as a threat.

"I'm guessing that she was pregnant as well based on her size and the shape of her belly.

"It was also late summer when they are heading inshore to pup."

In Australia, bull sharks are in the "top three" target species involved in the most serious bites – along with great whites, and tigers.

Australian Museum says the bull shark "is one of the few sharks that are potentially dangerous to people and is probably responsible for most of the shark attacks in and around Sydney Harbour.

While Moore acknowledges this, he said it's not been his experience with the animals.

Moore said bull sharks are usually 'calm' and relaxed in his presence. Often he finds bull sharks have hooks embedded in their mouths, after entanglements with fishermen's prey.

"They have certainly been responsible for attacks on humans, albeit rare, both in Australia and the United States," he said.

"Almost all negative interactions with bulls are likely a case of mistaken identity in murky water, or a competition situation while spearfishing.

"That said, they are still apex predators, and I am not suggesting swimming with them without shark experience or without a trained guide."

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