There are a lot of shark myths floating around out there — including the idea that sharks like to attack GoPros. It's a strange myth that's remained unanswered for years. Thanks to an internet video from YouTuber Mark Grober, he recently set out to answer this once and for all by heading into shark-infested waters holding a rig of 21 GoPros. Seriously.
Mark Rober spent 9 years as an engineer at NASA, and after leaving his position there, he's quickly become one of the most interesting stars on YouTube. Rober's channel got a lot of attention in 2018 when he created a glitter bomb to deter people from stealing packages from his house. At the time of publishing this article, the now-iconic "Glitter Bomb 1.0 Vs. Porch Pirates" video has over 86 million views. Rober has also used his channel to skin a watermelon, create a 15-ton Jello pool, and construct extravagant squirrel mazes in his backyard.
In Rober's latest video, titled, "Shark vs. 21 GoPros," he pulls off one of his craziest stunts yet. Paired with Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp as part of Discovery's 2021 Shark Week event, the two went all the way to Bermuda, took 21 GoPros with them, and went swimming with a heap of sharks to see if they were attracted to the GoPros. Videos of sharks attacking GoPros from divers have led some people to believe that the rugged cameras are appealing to sharks — sending out electrical waves that get their attention. After swimming with 21 GoPros, and conducting another test with one real GoPro and one dummy unit, Rober and his crew ultimately decided that the myth was just that — a myth. Even so, the footage from all of the GoPros did result in a pretty amazing video.
Other Highlights From Rober's 2021 Shark Week Video
Although the dive with 21 GoPros is the main highlight, Rober and Schnapp get up to a lot more in the 24-minute video. Rober attempts to create a real-life 'sharknado' by dropping a box filled with food into the water, investigates an old lighthouse to see if the Burmuda Triangle is really cursed, and more. This isn't the first time Rober has conducted shark-focused experiments, either. Rober has previously used his channel to determine if sharks can smell blood from a mile away, as well as whether sharks prefer human blood over the blood from other animals.
If Rober's GoPro test doesn't fully scratch that shark itch, there's plenty more to check out for Shark Week 2021. Star Trek star William Shatner has a new special on Discovery, the Jackass team performed a variety of shark-related stunts, and there's even a new clip of King Shark from The Suicide Squad. None of the other Shark Week shenanigans have as much of a tech focus as Rober's, but regardless, they're still a lot of fun to watch.
Source: Mark Rober