A thrilling incident took place last week off the coast of San Francisco, where a pair of California kayakers had a close encounter with a massive great white shark. The two friends, John-Patrick Thomas and Ian Walters, were out fishing for link cod and halibut in Half Moon Bay on August 6th, their first time on the water together.
The terrifying incident was captured on video as the shark’s dorsal fin appeared just behind Thomas’ kayak. Despite the frightening encounter, Walters expressed a sense of luck and fascination rather than fear. He told Fox affiliate KTVU-TV that it was more of a “special experience” than anything else.
The great white shark, which is known to grow up to 20 feet in length, was even larger than the 13-foot kayaks the two friends were paddling in Half Moon Bay. According to KRON-TV News, the shark circled around them for a few minutes as it approached their fishing equipment.
Walters shared his experience with KRON-TV News, stating that seeing the dorsal fin and tail movement gave him an idea of the shark’s immense size. As a sixth-grade history and science teacher in Oakland, Walters is excited to share this unforgettable encounter with his students, hoping to shed light on the important role these creatures play in the ecosystem.
Walters emphasized that great white sharks are not mindless killing machines but rather fascinating animals that generally pose no harm to humans. This close encounter serves as a reminder of the beauty and power of nature’s largest predators and the importance of respecting their presence in our oceans.
