Aussies flee popular beach after 4.5m predator spotted in shallows: 'No swim zone'
A group of holidaying Australians received the shock of their lives over the weekend when they arrived at a beach in the country's south for a swim, only to spot a "massive" four-metre great white shark cruising through the shallows.
The group were among many football fans visiting South Australia for the AFL's annual Gather Round at the weekend — but their beach visit took an unexpected turn when the giant predator appeared just metres from shore.
Filming the incredible encounter on Saturday at Aldinga Beach, south of Adelaide, vacationer Ebony said she and her friends had only just arrived at the spot when they made the exciting discovery. A three-second video shared on the Shark Watch SA Facebook page shows the predator swimming roughly 50 metres away.
Ebony said she simply "couldn't believe" what she saw.
"We'd just arrived to look at the beach, we came down the stairs, and a group of us was already down by the water — and we couldn't believe it," she told radio station 3AW.
"It was massive, at least four and a half metres. We eventually found out it was a great white.
"Everyone had cleared out at the time. We were like, 'well, there's good weather for the rest of the week, but [now] it's a no swim zone'. We're just keeping our eyes open for sure."
While the moment was startling, shark sightings in SA — particularly involving great whites — are not unheard of. The state's southern coastline is considered a global hotspot for great white sharks, with nutrient-rich waters that support abundant fish life, making it a natural hunting ground for the species.
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Sightings often increase during the warmer months, when more people are in the water and when seals, a key part of the great white's diet, are more active around popular coastal spots. Though attacks remain rare, beachgoers are always encouraged to be vigilant and to heed any safety warnings.
Marine experts say the presence of sharks is actually a healthy sign of a balanced ocean ecosystem, and the state is one of the few places in the world where cage diving with great whites is legal, drawing in tourists seeking a safe glimpse of the creatures up close.
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