Pod of Dolphins Saved Swimmer from a Lurking 6-Foot Great White Shark: Why Are These Predators Afraid From Those Marine Mammals?

Many people have dreamt of swimming with dolphins, especially those adventurous backpackers. But in a rare event, a British swimmer got a chance to swim with a pod of dolphins off the coast of New Zealand as they tried to save him from the lurking great white shark underneath him.

So, it seems that the apex predator is afraid of the pod of dolphins. But what do these marine mammals have that scare off the bigger predators enough to avoid them?

Saved by the Dolphins While Trying to Complete a Bucket List

Adam Walker, a traveling British swimmer from Nottingham, got more than he expected when he dived off the coast of New Zealand to complete a 16-mile challenge across Cook Strait.

According to Daily Star, he was shocked when he saw a 6-foot great white shark appear only a few feet away from him. It was then that a pod of dolphins appeared and shielded him from a potentially deadly attack.

Walker praised the heroic marine mammals who he believed rescued him from the apex predator. He was told by a peer not to worry about sharks while completing the challenge, so he was not so excited when he saw the shark swimming beneath him.

He described his experience, saying that it was like swimming in the washing machine. But also, it was his dream to be able to swim with dolphins, and the experience would remain with him forever.

"Dream come true swimming with dolphins for over an hour...open-water swimming doesn't get any better than this!" he said.

Walker added that he had previous encounters with sharks while swimming, one in Hawaii and the other in Japan's Tsugaru channel. He noted that the best approach when coming across a shark is not to panic.

Why Are Sharks Afraid of Dolphins?

Even the toughest fish in the sea is afraid of dolphins and here are some of the reasons why these apex predators are afraid of those marine mammals according to Sea World:

• Dolphins are flexible- Dolphins have soft skin and flexible joints that help them to easily maneuver quickly in a fight.
• Dolphin tails allow for great agility- The tails of dolphins help them change direction during quick attacks, unlike shark tails that limit their upward and downward mobility.
• Don't mess with the snout- Dolphins have very strong and thick snouts that they use to jab the soft underbelly of the shark to cause serious internal injuries.
• Dolphins travel in pods- The biggest advantage of dolphins versus sharks is their number. Unlike sharks which are solitary predators, dolphins travel in groups so they could defend each other.
• Dolphins are smart- The battle between sharks and dolphins is a classic example of brawns versus brains. Dolphins use their intelligence to counter the strength of sharks.
• Dolphins swim fast too- Aside from being intelligent, dolphins can swim faster than most shark species, making them an elusive meal and not worthy to chase.

Check out more news and information on Dolphins in Science Times.