Horror moment Brit couple flee from giant 6ft swimming SNAKE off Ibiza as holiday island is gripped by serpent ‘plague'
THIS is the terrifying moment a 6ft snake slithers through the water right up to a couple's boat off the coast of Ibiza.
Stefanie Daub and her husband were relaxing on a boat when they noticed sudden movement in the waters of the popular
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A 6ft reptile swam near a couple's boat in Ibiza
Credit: Jam Press/Stephanie Daub
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Snake sightings in the Balearics have surged, report local outlets
Credit: Jam Press/Stephanie Daub
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Stefanie Daub and her husband spotted the snake from their boat
Credit: Instagram/stefanie.daub
In a shocking video shared online by Stefanie, a snake is seen slithering through the sea towards the couple's boat while they visited Ses Balandres - a rocky cove on Ibiza's northwest coast.
As the boat edges forward, the reptile eerily trails close behind.
After over 30 seconds of following the couple, the snake finally appears to change course.
Stefanie wrote as a caption for the video: 'A boat trip is a good idea, they said… if you like swimming with snakes.'
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Tourist numbers have taken a hit at beaches in the Balearics due to a rise in snake sightings, reports the
Some of the Balearic Islands' most popular coves - like Ses Balandres, where the couple were visiting - have seen their reputations damaged because of the reptiles, the outlet adds.
While experts say these snakes are not venomous, their growing presence causes concern for both locals and visitors.
Though Stefanie has lived in Ibiza since 2006, running yoga and healing retreats on the island, the snake sighting in the sea took her by surprise.
Most read in The Sun
The Brit initially believed the reptile was a "big bird" or "fish", she told
Describing the ordeal, she told the outlet: "I went out with my husband for a few hours on June 8, before I started work.
Shocking moment 'biggest snake ever' slithers across golf course terrifying fans
"We arrived in Ses Balandres and I saw a movement in the sea.
"I said to my husband 'look there must be a big fish or a bird under the water'.
"He realised very quickly that it was a snake. We went closer and the snake swam behind the boat. It was really strange.
"I'm not afraid of snakes, but I don't want to have them on the boat.
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The video was shared online by Stefanie on June 8
Credit: Jam Press/Stephanie Daub
"We went away and for a long time we were watching around if she comes back. I was quite relaxed and had a little sleep after a while."
Stefanie later learnt that a snake had tried to "enter a boat" a few days later.
She said she was relieved that she had not been swimming in the water at the time of the snake sighting.
The Brit added: "I did not even know that they go into the ocean to swim. There are too many and getting more."
According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, snake sightings are becoming more common in tourist hotspots across the Balearics - especially in
Ibiza
and Formentera.
As many as 3,800 snakes were captured across the Balearics in 2024 alone, based on figures from environmental officials cited by the outlet.
Ibiza reportedly accounted for over 3,000 of the snakes caught, while nearly 800 were found in Formentera.
Spanish authorities are tightening checks on plant shipments in a bid to stop foreign snake species spreading to island environments, the outlet adds.
Why are snakes increasingly common across the Balearics?
Snakes are increasingly spotted in the Balearic Islands due to a combination of factors:
Ornamental olive trees imported from the mainland sometimes carry snake eggs hidden in the roots or soil
Warmer temperatures linked to climate change make the region more hospitable for reptiles, providing ideal conditions for snakes to thrive and reproduce
Habitat changes can disrupt local ecosystems, allowing snakes to spread more easily
A lack of natural predators on the islands means snakes can thrive with fewer threats
Growing tourism and trade can unintentionally introduce non-native species
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Stefanie has lived in Ibiza since 2006
Credit: Instagram/stefanie.daub
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