Viral Moment Confirmed by Officials
A great white shark launched itself several feet out of the water off Marina State Beach over the weekend, photobombing a group of beachgoers posing for photos and creating a viral moment that California State Parks officials have independently verified as authentic.
The video, captured by Erin King, shows the shark breaching dramatically in the background as she and a group of women she had just met posed for a picture. King told KSBW Action News 8 that the encounter happened in an instant. "It happened so fast. I mean, it was just an instant," she said. "So, it just so happened that we got to see that, and I don't think anybody else really did."
State park officials compared the timestamp on King's video with footage from a Surfline camera that monitors surfing conditions at the beach, confirming the breach was genuine. "Given where she was standing, and the timestamp on her video, which matched up perfectly with the timestamp on the surf line video, it's very likely to be the same shark," said Chief Ranger Mike Dippel.
A Spectacular Display of Power
The shark, estimated at over 10 feet and weighing between 1,500 and 4,000 pounds, was captured launching more than 80% of its body out of the water—a feat that requires immense force. According to experts, great white sharks can reach speeds of up to 40 mph when breaching, which is typically part of a hunting strategy targeting seals and sea lions common along the California coastline.
Shark Season Returns to the Central Coast
The breach is a reminder that October marks the return of white sharks to California's Central Coast. Great white sharks frequent Monterey Bay seasonally, traveling to offshore waters near Hawaii before returning to California's coast in late summer and early fall. The Central Coast provides important habitat for the predators, which feed on fish and marine mammals, including seals.
"It is that time of the year. October, the fall months tend to be when white sharks do come back and migrate to the Central Coast," Dippel said. "So just make sure you're aware of that and using caution when surfing or swimming, recreating in the water around the Central Coast this time of year."
California State Parks has posted shark notices at the beach in accordance with protocol and reminded visitors that sharks are an important part of the coastal ecosystem and that interactions between people and sharks are rare. The state sees only three to four shark attacks per year despite millions of people entering the water.
Increased Sightings Linked to Changing Ocean Conditions
In recent years, great white shark sightings have increased along parts of the West Coast. Changing ocean conditions amid the climate crisis are influencing their migratory patterns, with El Niño events bringing marine heatwaves and warmer-than-usual ocean temperatures that can disrupt marine ecosystems, prompting cold-water species such as the great white to shift northward or move into deeper waters in search of cooler temperatures.
A Keystone Species Misunderstood
Despite their fearsome reputation—fueled by films such as Jaws—great white sharks are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and have faced steep population declines exceeding 90% in some regions during the 20th century due to recreational and commercial fishing, by-catch, illegal poaching, and other threats.
As apex predators and keystone species, they play a vital role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems by regulating prey populations, redistributing nutrients, and helping limit the spread of disease by consuming sick or injured prey. State officials emphasized that sharks are an important part of the coastal ecosystem and that interactions between people and sharks are rare.
The viral nature of King's video offers a rare glimpse into the power and behavior of these animals, but it also serves as a timely reminder for beachgoers to remain cautious during shark season. As Dippel put it: "When in nature, use caution."
A Moment of a Lifetime
The footage, which a videographer could spend a lifetime trying to capture, has sparked widespread interest online. King, a self-described "Beach Girl" who grew up in the region, said she offered to help a group of girls take a selfie before they reciprocated by taking a photo of her—the exact moment the shark breached. The perfectly timed shot has since been shared widely, highlighting the unpredictable and awe-inspiring nature of California's coastal wildlife.
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