700 sharks, 6 divers, 1 feeding frenzy


Yannis Papastamatiou will appear on National Geographic's 700 Sharks. Photo by Laurent Ballesta.

Marine biologist Yannis Papastamatiou’s night dive with sharks off Fakarava will appear on National Geographic’s 700 Sharks. Photo by Laurent Ballesta.

Yannis Papastamatiou’s night dive with sharks is about to go on display before the world when 700 Sharks premiers at 9 p.m., Tuesday, July 17, on National Geographic.

The FIU marine biologist joined an international team of researchers to explore the world of sharks off Fakarava in French Polynesia

“I have never in 24 years of diving seen anything quite like the night dives in Fakarava with 300 reef sharks hunting all round you and sometimes crashing in to you,” Papastamatiou said. “Despite the very active state of the sharks, they never bit us underwater, even when they were chasing fish and crashing into us.”

The team of researchers studied one of the largest schools of sharks at night when they are most active and hunting. Their goal: discover the previously unseen hunting strategies and social behaviors of sharks.