A 15-foot great white shark was spotted swimming close to Santa Monica pier last week, prompting concerns among beachgoers in California. The predator, typically found in deeper waters, was captured on drone footage by photographer Carlos Guana, who had heard reports of sharks breaching in the area.
Guana initially assumed the sharks were juveniles, as the Santa Monica Bay is known as a nursery ground for young great whites. However, upon reviewing his footage, he realised the shark was an adult, swimming about 50 yards off the coast. He alerted a local lifeguard as a precaution.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, great white shark encounters are rare, with about 200 incidents reported between 1950 and 2021, resulting in 107 injuries and 16 deaths. Officials note that while great whites do not typically prey on humans, they may pose a threat if encountered in their territory.
Guana described the sighting as awe-inspiring, saying it highlighted the rich marine ecosystem near a busy urban area. The sighting follows the tagging of Contender, a 13.8-foot, 1,653-pound great white shark off Massachusetts in July, which was the largest ever tagged in the region.
