National Geographic
Maui Shark Mystery
Disney+

Marine biologist Paige Wernli investigates why Maui has the highest number of tiger shark attacks in Hawaii. Working with the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, she aims to tag tiger sharks with cameras during mating season to gather evidence of their behavior. Paige starts by practicing her tagging technique on Oahu, where tigers are more accustomed to humans. With lab mate Jules Hartley, she successfully tags a large female without disturbing its natural behavior. In January, they head to Maui when tiger sharks converge in high numbers, expecting the Maui sharks to be more cautious. The team struggles to get close to the wary sharks, who may be distracted by mating and the arrival of humpback whales, a potential food source. Consulting a whale expert, they learn the whales' presence could be drawing the tigers to Maui. When an injured humpback is reported, the team rushes to the scene, but a tiger shark aggressively approaches Paige, forcing her to abort her dive. With time running out, they switch bait and finally attract an 11-foot female. As Paige prepares to tag her, the shark strikes her hard with its tail, knocking off the tag. Jules bravely dives in and successfully deploys the camera tag. The footage reveals the tagged female being pursued by two males, an unusual sighting. Paige and her team have made history, proving free-diving tagging works in Maui. They are excited to analyze the data and unravel the mystery of the tiger shark aggregation. With a dedicated team, Paige feels unstoppable in her research.