Great White Shark Leaps from Pacific Near Monterey Bay

A great white shark was filmed leaping out of the Pacific Ocean near Monterey Bay, California, on October 17. The dramatic moment was captured by Erin King, a beachgoer at Marina State Beach who was having her photo taken when the shark breached the water.

King described the event as happening quickly and shared a video showing her surprised reaction. California State Park officials confirmed that their Surfline cameras also recorded a shark breach around the same time, approximately 12:20 p.m. Chief Ranger Mike Dippel noted that given King's location and the video timestamp, it is highly likely the same shark.

Dippel stated that the fall months, particularly October, are a common time for great white sharks to migrate to the Central Coast. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has reported an increase in shark sightings along the California coast since June.

Earlier in October, an aggressive great white shark was observed near Huntington Beach, prompting officials to close the waters on October 13. According to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, warmer ocean temperatures are shifting the habitats of juvenile white sharks northward and encouraging them to remain in California's nearshore areas later into the year.

Experts from the Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab have indicated that warmer El Niño ocean conditions may lead to a larger presence of white sharks in Southern California. Juvenile great whites reportedly prefer ocean temperatures between 67 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Director Chris Lowe of the Shark Lab noted that sharks are frequently present in the ocean even when not visible to beachgoers.

State Parks has issued a shark advisory for Marina State Beach, urging caution for those recreating in the water along the Central Coast during this period.