Sharks have been spotted swimming in shallow waters at several Florida beaches this Fourth of July weekend, sending frantic swimmers fleeing to safety as beachgoers took videos of the startling incidents.
A hammerhead shark appeared zipping in and out of shallow waters in Perdido Key Sunday afternoon — at one point swimming five to 10 yards offshore, WEAR TV reported.
The massive creature can be seen aggressively thrashing about in the ocean as concerned onlookers yell out: “Shark!”
Swimmers sprint out of the water, peering over their shoulders, as onlookers cry out about the danger.
Shark sightings are more common in June than any other month, so it’s no surprise they are still being seen in July, according to Kennady Brinley, a marine biologist with Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge.
The shark in the video was exhibiting foraging behavior, Brinley told the outlet.
Video taken of another shark spotted about 40 miles away at a different Florida beach also went viral this weekend.
A shark was spotted casually swimming among throngs of beachgoers at Navarre Beach Monday afternoon.
Swimmers can be seen making their way out of the water as they begin to notice the shark’s fin circling in the waves, some even turning around to watch its tail flip about as they exited the water.
As people make their way out of the water, concerned onlookers can be heard shouting, “Get out of the water,” “Come out!” and “Hurry, hurry!”
Many took their time exiting the water, as someone behind the video camera notes, “They’re still out there.”
Cristy Cox, who took the video, told the Pensacola News Journal that the shark was just on the hunt for its next meal.
“It all happened so fast! A dolphin was actually side by side with the shark at first and then just disappeared,” Cox said.
“The shark was just trying to feed as they are expected and just passed by swimmers. Everyone was stunned as it moved down the beach chasing the school of fish. We all just have to remember this is natural and we are in their home, so stay alert!”
Beach Safety Director Austin Turnbill confirmed to the paper a shark had been seen, but said there was no reason to be concerned by the spotting.
“There’s sharks in the Gulf, everywhere. We see sharks almost every day and there’s nothing to be alarmed of for 99.9% of the time,” Turnbill said.
