Great White Shark Leaps from Water Behind Boogie Boarder off California Beach

A startling scene unfolded at Newport Beach, California, this past weekend as a great white shark was captured on film breaching the water directly behind an oblivious boogie boarder. Soaren Stevenson recorded the footage near Lifeguard Tower 40 at 6:30 a.m. while filming his brother-in-law. At the time of the event, neither the boarder nor anyone else on the shore realized a large shark had jumped from the ocean just yards away.

It was only after reviewing the video footage and zooming in that Stevenson identified the animal as a shark. The video provides a clear look at the breach, which occurred as local beachgoers were gearing up for the start of Shark Week 2026. The incident remains a point of conversation for those familiar with the waters off the Southern California coast.

Experts from the Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab suggest that the shark’s behavior was likely unrelated to any predatory intent. Professor Christopher Lowe explained that sharks often breach the surface for non-aggressive reasons, such as scratching an itch or simply for movement. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife maintains that shark interactions with humans remain extremely rare in the state.

Data from the state agency shows that since 1950, there have been fewer than 250 documented shark incidents in California, with the vast majority involving white sharks. Officials emphasize the term incident over attack, noting that most encounters involve a shark investigating an object rather than targeting a person. The department advises swimmers to stay clear of areas where feeding behavior has been reported but otherwise notes that the ocean remains a shared space.

Despite the proximity of the shark, Stevenson stated that the encounter did not change his perspective on entering the water. He noted that the experience serves as a reminder of the proximity humans have to marine wildlife while surfing or swimming. Local authorities continue to monitor the coast and encourage beachgoers to stay informed about ocean conditions.