A woman who posted Facebook photos of the moment a great white shark swum into her diving cage now says the shark wasn’t in the cage, and the story has been “blown out of proportion”.
Brittnay Haines posted the images on her Facebook profile on February 3, after a shark swam into her cage while she was diving off Stewart Island.
Ms Haines commented under the photo that the shark had swum into the cage following a piece of bait, and had become stuck.
However, she told stuff.co.nz yesterday the incident had been “blown out of proportion” and the shark had not been in the cage. She refused to make any further comment.
Under the Facebook photos Ms Haines said the shark was “thrashing around trying to get out” and received a cut on its nose during the incident.
“The shark couldn't get in anymore he was lucky to get out from being stuck in that far [sic],” she wrote on February 3.
“Cant say i ever want to go snorkelling again after seeing these big f***ers.”
Ms Haines is the daughter of Mike Haines, who owns and operates Southern Aqua Adventures. He is believed to be the owner of the cage.
Mr Haines and another operator have been calling on the Government to impose industry regulations to stop “cowboy” operators setting up in Foveaux Strait.
Maritime New Zealand spokesman Ross Henderson said Maritime NZ was working with the Labour and Conservation departments to develop a code of practice.
The code is expected to be completed later this year.
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