Deb Dauphinais, an experienced dive instructor, initially believed the shark had perished. However, upon noticing a slight twitch, she urgently signaled her husband to join and assist her.
In the serene depths off Jamestown, Rhode Island, Deb and Steve Dauphinais from Glastonbury, Connecticut, embarked on a scuba adventure that unfolded into a daring rescue mission. Amid their exploration, Deb, a seasoned dive instructor, made a surprising discovery: a 16-inch juvenile shark entangled in a discarded work glove, resting at a depth of approximately 35 feet.
Assuming the worst, Deb was stunned when she noticed a subtle movement from the trapped shark. Urgently signaling her husband, they swiftly devised a plan.
“He came over, and it was like a moment of disbelief,” she recounted.
Approaching the distressed juvenile Dogfish shark, her husband cautiously attempted to disentangle it from the glove, firmly latched onto its head. After a delicate struggle, the glove relented, setting the shark free.
Maintaining a composed demeanor despite the potential danger, the couple observed as the shark regained its bearings and gracefully swam away, unharmed.
“It glanced at us, unharmed, found its balance, and gracefully returned to where it belongs,” she recalled.
Reflecting on her extensive experience as an instructor spanning three decades, Deb recalled this rescue as just one instance of aiding distressed marine life. Recounting a past incident where she liberated a black sea bass ensnared in discarded fishing gear, she expressed her heartfelt concern for the perils faced by sea creatures due to underwater debris.
“There are countless tales of underwater creatures falling victim to sea trash,” she lamented. “It’s an ongoing issue close to my heart. These moments, rescuing creatures like this shark, are precious and rare.