But no problem - it was exactly what Mr Robinson wanted to see.
But has he ever had a close call ... a bit of a run-in with something menacing?
"Put it this way - there have been a couple of occasions when I've got out of the water in a bit of a rush."
Mr Robinson is the 2014 Press Photographer of the Year and the 2013 New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year and will be back in his old Bay stomping grounds next Saturday to hold a seminar at the Napier Photo Festival. He has been through the era of film and odour of developing liquid through to the remarkable digital age.
The festival will feature workshops, exhibitions and competitions.
It was his grandfather, the late Rich Marshall, who was a renowned photographer in his own right, who got him interested in the picture trade.
As a young man he worked the rolls of film and toiled in the darkroom with the Daily Telegraph, and moved on to Hawke's Bay Today for a year. In 2000 he headed north and joined the camera crew with the New Zealand Herald and embraced the expanding world of digital photography.
He also began embracing the world of underwater photography, something his grandfather was also a specialist at.
He carried out several assignments for New Zealand Geographic, including a visit to the sub-Antarctic islands and the Kermadecs.
Now it is a full-time devotion and the one place he wants to go to great depths is Antarctica.
"That is the one New Zealand territory that is on my to-do list," he said. The challenge and the potential results were the drivers.
"Hopefully one day I'll get there."
When it comes to the fascination with sharks he said it was due to his respect and admiration for them.
"They are misunderstood - they are an important part of our marine ecological system - it needs top predators."
He said in terms of catching up with sharks, Hawke Bay was a prime location, and although he now lives in Auckland he gets down to the Bay as often as he can.
Likewise the sea.
"Every chance I can I get in the water." The development of digital photography had advanced underwater work, he said.
The use of film limited the number of photographs that could be taken, and accordingly the amount of time that could be spent beneath the waves. "It is the versatility and you can do so much more - but I've still got a freezer full of film though," he said with a laugh.
"I sometimes use it - but not often."
His increasing underwater work, coupled with the arrival of baby Eva a month ago, led to him making the decision to go out as Richard Robinson - Underwater Photographer.
He will be one of six guest speakers during the festival. His simple philosophy and advice about taking a good photograph?
"Understand the subject."
To check out details of the Napier Photo Festival go to www.napierinthecity.co.nz/napier-photo-festival/