MPO's Mako!

Wow.

Epic!

And knowing the man, there's many more pictures where this one came from - minutes or not!

A MASSIVE (in the truest sense of the word) female Shortfin or Longfin (should know soon) Mako Shark estimated at easily 13-14 ft. and 1,000 lbs. 

The blue sharks, which disappeared immediately, looked like toothpicks next to her. 

Reportedly the largest Mako ever seen by dive operators in Pico, this enormous shark rocketed from the blue below and swam among us until we ended our dive - in minutes . She was so big at first I thought she was a Great White Shark (a close cousin). 

The Mako is the top predator in the pelagic (offshore) marine habitat, preying on a variety of big fish (tuna, billfish, etc.) and even marine mammals. 

And this place has plenty of both. 

Unfortunately, sharks like this are becoming harder and harder to find because of fishing. I have to say it's the most impressive shark I've ever seen, and this encounter ranks as one of my top experiences in 3,000 dives in 22 years. 

Truly spectacular - check out the mating scars.

The head is pretty much all teeth.

So what is this - Longfin or Shortfin?
Methinks the latter - alas!