A California surfer cut his morning session short after drone footage appeared to capture a large shark circling him in the waters off Aptos.
The encounter happened near Seascape Beach at about 8:45 a.m. on June 10, when drone photographer Nick Bertocchini spotted the animal swimming around a surfer identified as Rex, according to KCRA3.
The footage shows the shark moving near the surfer, Rex, who sat on his board offshore.
Bertocchini later spoke with the surfer — who told him he had spent years surfing the area and had noticed shark activity becoming more common near Seascape Beach.
Following the terrifying encounter, Rex decided to head back to shore.
While the scene may have appeared alarming, Bertocchini said he regularly sees sharks while filming the coastline and has captured numerous encounters between the predators and surfers from above.
In most cases, he said, the sharks seem interested in their surroundings before continuing on their way.
But Bertocchini said this encounter caught his attention for a different reason.
“This one stood out because it appeared more investigative than the average encounter I typically see. I am glad the shark and surfer left without any further contact,” Bertocchini told the outlet.
Sharks are regularly spotted along California’s Central Coast, where surfers and marine life often share the same waters. Beachgoers are encouraged to remain aware of ocean conditions and stay alert while in the water.
