With so much shark activity nowadays, are California surfers desensitized?
In certain Southern California surf zones, and certain surf spots, the frequency of juvenile great white sharks showing up in the lineup and cruising around is about as common as seeing seals, or stingrays, or a number of other marine critters.
As such, surfers are getting used to it; hence, the clip below:
The clip above comes from ocean photographer, sea life videographer, and drone documenter, Scott Fairchild. And it shows a scene all too common for Southern California surfers – a San Diego lineup, and a curious great white shark perusing through. Judging by the size of the surfers’ boards, the shark looks to be about eight foot, which means it’s still a juvenile great white.
What’s different, however, in this clip, the surfers notice Fairchild’s drone flying overhead, and these days, they know what that means – a shark in the water. But because sharks are showing up so regularly these days, the surfers just keep surfing.
Albeit while hiding their limbs on their boards…just in case.
Fairchild noted this in the clip, explaining:
“This Great White shark was cruising down the coast on a cold, cloudy, and murky water day.
“If you notice, everyone has their arms and feet out of the water. Because of the drone and them then communicating, all of the surfers new a shark was passing through the area. But as always, they continued to surf.”
So, how frequent are great white sharks lurking below surfers in Southern California lineups?
Well, according to a recent study from Cal State University Long Beach’s Shark Lab, sharks are present very, very frequently. Like, 97% of the time.
But the correlation between frequency of sharks, and regularity of attacks, should give surfers and beachgoers a bit of solace, according to the study authors.
“I think people will be shocked by these findings,” said Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab. “We never expected to see so many encounters every day with no incidents,”
Still, no shame in bringing those legs and arms onboard when one cruises by.
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