The shark whisperer! Incredible moment a diver puts a tiger shark into a trance by ‘hypnotising’ it

The shark whisperer! Incredible moment a diver puts a tiger shark into a trance by ‘hypnotising’ it

• ‘Tonic immobility’ was performed by Leigh Cobb at Tiger Beach in the Bahamas
• Emma the tiger shark was rolled onto her back after entering trance-like state
• The footage was captured by photographer and dive master Christian Torres

This is the incredible moment a brave diver puts a tiger shark into a trance by ‘hypnotising’ it.

The hypnosis, called ‘tonic immobility’, was performed by Leigh Cobb at Tiger Beach in the Bahamas.

Footage shows the 16ft tiger shark, nicknamed ‘Emma’, approach the diver after being fed a fish.

A brave diver ‘hypnotised’ a tiger shark at Tiger Beach in the Bahamas using the ‘tonic immobility’ method

Mr Cobb then begins stroking the predator’s side before gently encouraging her to roll onto her back.

The diver keeps one hand on the shark’s side and another on her head as he continues to move her.

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Smaller sharks stay nearby, swimming around the diver’s knees as he continues the hypnosis.  

Photographer and dive master Christian Torres, 41, from Ecuador, captured the fascinating footage.

He said: ‘Diving with theses majestic creatures always brings new sensations.

The hypnosis, called ‘tonic immobility’, was performed by Leigh Cobb at Tiger Beach in the Bahamas

Emma the shark, who is 16ft long, rolls vertically onto her back after falling into the trace-like state

‘In the video, my friend and mentor Leigh Cobb, is feeding and rolling the most famous Tiger shark from Tiger Beach, Bahamas named ‘Emma’ who is 16ft long.

‘I usually like photographing big animals like sharks, mantas, whales or dolphins.’

Tonic immobility is a reflex that causes a state of immobility in animals – similar to that of hypnosis.

The trance-like state is triggered in sharks by stimulating the tiny sensory pores located on their snout, according to The Shark Trust. 

It is often used by researchers to minimise struggling and possibility of injury when handling them.

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