What would you do if a giant anaconda appeared right in front of you underwater? Most would flee, but Bartolomeo Bove, an underwater videographer and professional shark diver, sought out this encounter. Bove traveled halfway around the world to swim with the green anaconda, the world’s largest snake.
Green anacondas are predatory species native to South America’s swamps, marshes, and murky streams. However, the Formoso River in Brazil, with its crystal-clear waters, offers a unique opportunity for diving with these creatures. Bove and his diving partner, Juca Ygarape, encountered a massive 7-meter (23-foot) female anaconda weighing around 90 kilograms (200 lbs). “The anaconda filmed in the video is a massive 7 meters (23-feet) female weighing around 90 kilograms (200 lbs),” Bove told whatzviral.
The anaconda appeared playful and indifferent to the divers, sometimes approaching and licking the camera lens. “The anaconda swims calm and peaceful, completely indifferent to our presence,” Bove noted. This behavior challenges the notion that anacondas are aggressive and violent towards humans.
Despite their size and strength, green anacondas need to be treated with respect. They prey on animals like wild pigs, birds, capybaras, jaguars, and turtles by squeezing and drowning them before consumption. “The behavior of the anaconda debunks the myth that it is an aggressive and violent creature that can endanger people’s lives,” Bove said. He hopes his footage will show the world their gentler side. “It was an unbelievable experience. No words can do justice to the sensations that I was really feeling during that experience.”
