Great White Shark Photobombs Beach Visitors in California

A great white shark breaching out of the water off Marina State Park in California was captured in a photo of a group of friends posing on the beach. California State Parks officials made a statement regarding the incident.

During the weekend incident at Marina State Park in California, a great white shark emerged above the water's surface, putting on a show for those nearby. Videos shared online showed the shark leaping meters into the air behind a group taking pictures on the beach.

California State Parks officials reported that they independently verified an animal with the characteristics of a great white shark submerging off Marina State Park around the same time frame as the moment in the video. Authorities stated that shark advisory warnings were in effect at the beach in accordance with departmental protocol.

Officials also emphasized that sharks are an important part of the coastal ecosystem and that interactions between humans and sharks are rare. Great white sharks visit the Monterey Bay area seasonally, traveling to open waters near Hawaii before returning to the California coast in the late summer and early fall.