A California surfer decided it was time to head back to shore after drone footage appeared to show a large shark circling him in the water.
The encounter happened near Seascape Beach in Aptos around 8:45 a.m. on June 10, according to KCRA3.
Drone photographer Nick Bertocchini was filming the coastline when he spotted the shark swimming near a surfer identified as Rex. The footage shows Rex sitting on his board offshore as the animal moves through the turquoise water nearby.
Bertocchini later spoke with Rex, who told him he has surfed the area for years and has noticed shark activity becoming more common near Seascape Beach.
After the close encounter, Rex decided to end his morning surf session and paddle back to land.
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Although the footage may look frightening, Bertocchini said he often sees sharks while filming along the coast. He has captured many moments where sharks and surfers are in the same waters.
In most cases, he said, the sharks appear curious about their surroundings before swimming away.
But this encounter stood out to him.
“This one stood out because it appeared more investigative than the average encounter I typically see,” Bertocchini told the outlet. “I am glad the shark and surfer left without any further contact.”
Sharks are commonly spotted along California’s Central Coast, where surfers and marine life often share the same waters.
