People still talk about it. Even years later, if you bring up Discovery Channel’s Shark Week at a bar or in a marine biology forum, someone is going to mention the "Submarine." It wasn't a boat. It was a shark. A massive, 35-foot Great White that supposedly haunted the waters off the coast of South Africa.
Specifically, they’ll bring up Shark of Darkness: Wrath of Submarine.
When this aired, it caused a massive stir. Some people were terrified. Others were captivated by the grainy footage and the dramatic reenactments of a vessel being attacked by a prehistoric-sized monster. But for those who actually study the ocean, it was the moment Shark Week "jumped the shark."
What Was Shark of Darkness: Wrath of Submarine Actually About?
The premise was simple and, honestly, pretty terrifying if you believed it. The "documentary" followed the story of a legendary Great White shark nicknamed "Submarine" that had supposedly been terrorizing False Bay, South Africa, for decades. The narrative centered on a specific, tragic event: the sinking of a whale-watching boat.
According to the show, this wasn't just an accident. The shark had intentionally rammed the boat.
The footage showed survivors huddling on the hull of a capsized vessel while a massive dorsal fin circled them in the gloom. It felt visceral. It felt real. The experts on screen looked worried. They talked about the "Submarine" like it was a ghost or a serial killer, something that defied the known laws of marine biology.
But there was a problem. It was a "docufiction."
Discovery Channel had ventured into the world of mockumentaries, much like they did with the Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives special. Shark of Darkness: Wrath of Submarine used actors to play scientists and survivors. The "found footage" was staged. The shark itself? A mix of clever editing and CGI.
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The Legend of the Real Submarine Shark
Wait, so was it all a lie? Not exactly. Like all good myths, this one had a tiny grain of truth buried under layers of Hollywood dramatization.
In the 1970s, there were rumors among South African fishermen about a massive Great White shark. They called it "The Submarine" because of its size and the way its dark back looked breaking the surface of the water. Some old-timers claimed it was 20 or even 30 feet long. To put that in perspective, the largest reliably measured Great Whites are usually around 20 feet (think Deep Blue).
The real Submarine became a local legend in the Cape Town area. However, there is zero scientific evidence that a single 35-foot shark existed and lived for fifty years while systematically hunting humans. Sharks don't really work that way. They are opportunistic predators, not cinematic villains with a vendetta.
The 2014 special took these localized fishing stories and inflated them into a horror movie. It claimed the shark was responsible for a 2014 boat sinking, but that event never actually happened. No such shipwreck occurred in the way described, and no such loss of life was recorded by South African authorities.
Why This Special Made People So Angry
You might wonder why a TV show caused such a backlash. It’s just entertainment, right?
Well, for decades, Shark Week was the gold standard for marine education. It was where kids learned about conservation and the vital role apex predators play in our ecosystem. When Shark of Darkness: Wrath of Submarine aired, it traded that credibility for ratings.
Biologists like David Shiffman were vocal about the damage this did. By portraying Great Whites as "monsters" that hunt people for sport, the show undermined decades of work meant to protect these animals. If people think sharks are bloodthirsty demons, they are less likely to care about overfishing or finning.
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It also confused the hell out of the general public. Because it aired on a "Discovery" channel, people assumed it was factual. There was a tiny disclaimer in the credits, but who reads those? Most viewers walked away genuinely believing a monster was patrolling the South African coast.
Breaking Down the "Evidence" in the Show
If you go back and watch the special now, the "tells" are everywhere.
The actors playing the researchers often use terminology that sounds "science-y" but doesn't quite hold up under scrutiny. The pacing is too perfect—the way the camera cuts just as the shark lunges is a classic horror movie trope.
- The Boat Sinking: The "found footage" of the boat The Hout Bay sinking was entirely scripted.
- The Size: A 35-foot shark would be roughly the size of a school bus. A Great White that large would struggle to find enough food to maintain its metabolism in the way the show suggested.
- The Aggression: Sharks rarely ram boats repeatedly with the intent to sink them. When they do "attack" boats, it’s usually a "test bite" to see if the object is prey, or a territorial display.
Honestly, the real tragedy is that the actual behavior of Great Whites in South Africa is fascinating enough without the fake gore. False Bay is famous for "breaching" sharks—where they fly entirely out of the water to catch seals. You don't need to invent a 30-foot monster when nature is already doing something that incredible.
The Legacy of the Submarine
Despite the controversy, the "Submarine" name still carries weight. It has become a piece of pop culture.
In the years following the special, Discovery eventually pivoted back toward more science-based programming, largely due to the massive outcry from the scientific community. They realized that while "monster" stories get a quick spike in views, they erode the long-term value of the brand.
But the "Submarine" lives on in YouTube comments and conspiracy forums. People love the idea that there is something bigger and scarier out there than what we've documented. It taps into our primal fear of the deep.
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How to Tell Fact from Fiction in Shark Documentaries
If you're watching a shark special and you aren't sure if it's real, look for these signs.
First, check the names of the experts. Real marine biologists like Greg Skomal or Alison Kock have actual footprints in the academic world. If you Google a "scientist" from a show and the only thing that comes up is an IMDB page, you're watching an actor.
Second, look at the footage quality. If the most "shocking" moments are all blurry, shaky-cam, or "found footage" style, it's likely a dramatization. Real high-end documentaries (like Planet Earth) use ultra-HD cameras and stabilization because they want you to see the animal clearly.
Finally, listen to the narrative. Real science is full of "we don't know" and "it appears that." If the narrator is telling a story about a specific shark with a "wrath" or a "desire for revenge," you're in the realm of fiction.
Actionable Insights for Shark Enthusiasts
If you want to learn about the actual giants of the sea without the Hollywood fluff, there are better ways to spend your time than re-watching mockumentaries.
- Follow Real-Time Tracking: Use the OCEARCH Shark Tracker. You can follow real, tagged Great Whites as they move across the ocean. It’s way more interesting to see a shark swim 2,000 miles than to watch a CGI shark bite a fake boat.
- Support Legitimate Research: Look into organizations like the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. They provide actual data on shark populations and behavior.
- Watch the Classics: If you want the "Discovery" feel without the fakes, look for older Shark Week episodes from the 90s or the more recent "Air Jaws" series, which, despite some dramatic editing, features real researchers and real sharks.
- Understand the "Submarine" Context: Recognize that while the 2014 special was fake, the legend of the Submarine is a real part of South African maritime folklore. It's a great example of how sea-faring cultures create myths to explain the unexplained.
The ocean is big enough and scary enough on its own. We don't need to make things up to be in awe of it. Shark of Darkness: Wrath of Submarine serves as a perfect reminder that in the world of nature documentaries, if it looks like a movie, it probably is.
Stick to the real science. The real Great Whites—the ones that are actually out there right now, navigating thousands of miles of open ocean—are far more impressive than a scripted monster from a decade-old TV special.