Gio Prince, from Cornwall, has more than 161,000 followers on social media as he shares his personal encounters with the marine world
Thomas Lawrance, Olivia Bridge Reporter in Live News Network and Alan Johnson Social News Reporter
17:32, 10 Jun 2026
A sea safari in West Cork surrounded by basking sharks(Image: Baltimore Sea Safari)
A scuba diver with a hefty online following has shared an exciting glimpse of marine life along the west coast of Ireland after he encountered a stunning basking shark in the waters.
The social media star and experienced diver, Gio Prince, shared crystal clear footage of his recent underwater adventure, where he was joined by some surprising visitors.
The Cornwall-based diver wrote: “The waters around Ireland are teeming with life this time of year. On the west coast I saw my first ever puffins and basking sharks! Some of my favourite animals in the whole world – and iconic seasonal visitors to Ireland,” reports Cork Beo.
The beautiful giant basking shark he found(Image: giosdiving/Instagram)
The clip begins on the sea’s surface, with a dolphin skimming through the waves. Beneath the surface, a pair of gigantic basking sharks slowly swims beside Gio. You can see the incredible footage below:
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While they present a frightening image, basking sharks are virtually harmless. Unlike their Great White cousins, these eight-metre behemoths are true gentle giants, moving slowly through the water and feeing off plankton.
A shot at the beginning of Gio’s video shows a glimpse of Granuaile’s Castle, on Clare Island off the coast of Mayo – though basking sharks and dolphins frequently patrol the waters further south, too, here in Cork. Earlier this month, some very lucky whale watchers got an incredible encounter as basking sharks appeared right next to their boat, just outside Baltimore Harbour in West Cork.
According to Wilderness Ireland, there are a variety of marine habitats to learn about and explore around Ireland’s coast, the Irish Mirror reports.
“One example are estuaries, filled with brackish water and home to an intricate ecosystem,” they advise online. “The most famous being the Shannon Estuary in the southwest and the Sligo estuary in the northwest.”
Wilderness Ireland continues: “As well as this, there are a great number of bays and reefs dotted along the coastline – great places for small crustaceans, shellfish and shallow-water fish.
“Further out in the open Atlantic Ocean you’ll find larger species such as Fin Whales, Basking Sharks and Common Dolphins. These cetaceous species are said to widespread and abundant in Irish waters.
“The cliffs and rocky outcrops of the mainland and many islands off the coast offer sanctuary for seabirds, such as Puffins, Gannets, Guillemot and Fulmars.”