SerpApi.Org
A terrifyingly close encounter between a juvenile great white shark and unsuspecting adolescent swimmers off the Southern California coast has hit the internet, once again offering a chilling glimpse into the proximity of apex predators and beachgoers.
The heart-pounding footage was captured by Carlos Gauna, known online as The Malibu Artist, one of the world's most prolific drone operators documenting shark behavior.
In the intense video, an approximately 10-foot great white shark slowly glided toward a group of young swimmers playing in the shallow surf. As the massive predator closed the distance out of apparent curiosity, the kids remained completely oblivious to the danger lurking just feet away. Watch the footage below.
"I don't often get nervous, but this was one of those rare instances where I did," Gauna admitted while watching the scene unfold from his controller. "The young swimmers had no idea. I'm standing over a mile away."
Fortunately, after briefly inspecting the group, the shark abruptly turned around and swam back out into deeper water.
The near-miss comes on the heels of a record-breaking year for California shark activity in 2025, with 2026 shaping up to be no different. Marine scientists warn that warming ocean temperatures and marine heatwaves are driving higher concentrations of juvenile white sharks directly into shallow coastal waters.
Related: World’s Sharkiest Surf Zones Ranked by Deadly Shark Encounters
Dr. Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), has warned that Super El Niño conditions and persistent marine heatwaves are creating a "sharky summer" along the West Coast.
"This is becoming a perfect storm," Dr. Lowe explained regarding the surge in juvenile white sharks crowding nursery habitats off Southern California beaches. "I always tell people that if they spend any amount of time in the water off Southern California, I guarantee a white shark swam by you and you didn't even know it."
While drone footage continues to prove that sharks inspect humans far more often than previously believed, experts stress that bites remain extraordinarily rare.
As warm waters draw both sharks and swimmers to the shoreline, Gauna's video serves as a sobering reminder to stay vigilant in the water.
Particularly in the months to come for SoCal surfers and swimmers.
Related: White Shark Filmed In Mediterranean For First Time (Video)
