Albino Grey Nurse Shark spotted off South West Rocks

I would say that is good news. Let's make sure this one survives and I hope it will become as popular as Migaloo.

Maybe it needs a name ?

Read the story from the Daily Telegraph below

PERHAPS this is the English shark that had our northern cousins in a cold sweat last week - after all, it's white, bloated and sports a set of decidedly dodgy teeth.

This rare albino grey nurse has been spotted at Australian's best known diving and fishing spot Fish Rock.

The photo of the 2.2m male was taken by Fish Rock Dive Centre owner Jon Cragg 2km off South West Rocks.

Mr Cragg was speechless when the amazing creature swam past him.

"I saw the big white shadow in the water with two other sharks then when I saw it I couldn't believe it, it was like a ghost coming out of the darkness," Mr Cragg said.

"No one has ever seen one like this before - it was pretty exciting."

Despite albinos having a lower chance of survival because they are visible to prey, Mr Cragg said this shark was "fighting fit".

"It looks like an active male and it was hanging out with the other sharks quite peacefully," he said.

The albino shark discovery comes a week after claims a "great white shark" was photographed off the English seaside last week.

Despite hysterical headlines in UK papers, experts said the creature was most likely a harmless basking shark.

Larry Anderson, who was diving with Mr Cragg, said the albino was a little more cautious than the others.

"I guess to survive standing out the way it did it needed a bit more survival instinct in him," Mr Anderson said.

"Nothing I've seen in my many years of diving could compare to the sight of this beautiful animal as it slowly cruised by."

Since the photograph was taken, the rare shark has been sighted swimming between Fish Rock and nearby Green Island

Full story with photo and a video clip at:

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22204963-5007132,00.html

Contributed by Tim Hochgrebe added 2007-08-08