Model Ocean Ramsey breaks silence after nearly jumping in mouth of 16ft tiger shark

A model famous for diving with monster sharks has opened up about the moment she faced a 16-foot beast nicknamed Queen Nikki.

Terrifying footage shows the giant tiger shark pouncing on Ocean Ramsey, jaws open, as she prepares to dive into the ocean.

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Ocean Ramsey, a marine conservationist and veteran diver, has been swimming with the apex predators for more than 20 years but was seriously injured — or even killed — in Hawaii last week.

Speaking to NBC’s TODAY, she said, “I love this tiger shark, I grew up with this tiger shark, I think we were teenagers at the same time. And that’s how I’ve known her for over 20 years.”

Recounting the experience, she admits that she entered the water too quickly, believing that this triggered the tiger shark’s reaction.

“I saw her and she was close enough, with enough speed, that it looked like she might actually go for my fin tips,” Ramsey said.

“There (were) a few small schools of fish underneath so I could see their speed and I knew I had to back off at that moment.”

The model managed to pull away in time before the shark could close its jaws, sending shivers down the spines of Ramsey’s Instagram followers, who first saw the footage.

Apparently unfazed by the incident, the freediver took a few seconds to cool off before diving straight into the sea.

“It’s just, ‘This is Nikki,’ you know, Queen Nikki, and she’s such a fun and interactive shark,” she continued.

“We were really excited for that moment. And I was just so excited to see her.”

After the video went viral, the shark enthusiast shared on her social media how keen she is that sharks get the respect they deserve.

“These are wild animals,” she said.

“They are apex predators, but they are not monsters. And that’s what I want to make sure it doesn’t come across.”