Henry Gibbs Releases Fiji Shark-Bite Footage After 4 Surgeries on Right Leg

Q: What hidden danger in camouflage wetsuits almost cost a New Zealand diver his leg during a Fiji spearfishing trip?

The hidden danger was that camouflage wetsuits may make divers more likely to be involved in aggressive shark encounters in tropical waters, a risk Henry Gibbs said he had underestimated before a grey reef shark bit his right leg in Fiji. After the attack, Gibbs said one of his clearest lessons was to avoid camo suits and “stick to plain black wetsuits in the tropics.” He said he had since heard of several grey reef shark incidents involving divers wearing camouflage, suggesting the patterning may contribute to a shark’s interest or confusion during spearfishing activity. Gibbs was spearfishing after moving from reef water into clearer blue water when a grey reef shark began circling tightly beneath the group, grew visibly agitated and then lunged. He said he cannot say for certain what triggered the attack, but suspects noise from the boat, speargun activity and movement in the water all may have played a role. In hindsight, he said the shark’s behavior was a clear warning sign to end the dive. The broader takeaway from his account is practical rather than speculative: in tropical shark habitat, divers should treat changing shark behavior as a serious risk signal, avoid camouflage wetsuits, and carry trauma gear with partners who know how to use it. Gibbs survived after four surgeries and a skin graft, and expects to make a full recovery with full use of his foot.

Q: Could a simple change in diving gear have prevented a predator's sudden and violent underwater strike?

Probably not by itself. A different wetsuit or other gear might have reduced risk, but it would not have guaranteed prevention. Gibbs himself said one lesson was to avoid camouflage wetsuits in tropical waters, reflecting a common view among experienced divers that camo can make a spearfisher resemble prey or blend into a hunting scene. In shark encounters, visual cues matter, especially when fish, blood, speargun activity and splashing are already stimulating a predator. That means gear choice can be one factor in lowering the chance of a strike. But the broader evidence points to behavior and conditions as more important than any single piece of equipment. Gibbs described a grey reef shark repeatedly circling tightly, appearing agitated and even charging the boat before the bite. Shark-diving safety guidance consistently says such changes in behavior are the clearest warning signs to end a dive. He also suspected boat commotion, spearfishing activity and general movement in the water may have contributed. So a “simple change” in gear could have helped at the margins, particularly if it made him less visually conspicuous or less prey-like. Yet the stronger preventive step, based on both his account and general shark-safety practice, would likely have been leaving the water as soon as the shark’s behavior escalated. In that sense, equipment matters, but situational awareness and timing matter more.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 27

Henry Gibbs posted video Sunday showing a grey reef shark circling, then biting his right leg while he was spearfishing in Fiji earlier this month.
Four surgeries and a skin graft were needed after the attack, but Gibbs said he kept full use of his foot and does not blame the shark.
Gibbs said the shark had grown agitated after an hour or two of diving, making tight semicircles and even sprinting at the boat before the bite.
His takeaways were to end a dive when shark behavior changes, avoid camouflage wetsuits in the tropics, and carry trauma gear with trusted dive partners.
The footage surfaced as shark attacks drew fresh attention this summer, with experts citing rebounding shark populations and warning swimmers to avoid bait-fish activity.