A stunning encounter was caught on camera when a great white shark jumped out of the water right behind a surfer in Newport Beach. This exhilarating moment occurred on July 25, 2026, when a beachgoer witnessed the incredible breach not far from the shore.
A Jaw-Dropping Experience
The footage, filmed by Soaren Stevenson, features a juvenile shark as it leaps and twists just feet away from his brother-in-law, who was enjoying a surfing session. In the heat of the moment, Stevenson was focused solely on his family member and was unaware of the shark’s presence until they reviewed the video.
“I was so engrossed in watching my brother-in-law that I didn’t even see the shark at first,” Stevenson recounted. But upon looking back at the footage, he was left astounded. “I couldn’t believe I had captured that on video!”
Understanding Shark Behavior
Initially mistaking the creature for a dolphin, Stevenson was shocked when he realized that it was, in fact, a shark. The experience, although startling, was described as a “once-in-a-lifetime type experience” by his brother-in-law, even though he was no stranger to sharks having grown up in Hawaii.
While such encounters can give a jolt of adrenaline, experts argue that shark interactions with humans are quite rare in the California waters. Data from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reveals that since 1950, there have been fewer than 250 recorded shark incidents overall. Interestingly, these numbers have not escalated alongside the growing number of beachgoers, surfers, and divers.
This thrilling, albeit alarming sighting has left Stevenson with a newfound respect for the ocean’s inhabitants. “It’s surreal to think a shark was swimming in the same waters as my brother-in-law, and he didn’t even know it was so close,” he shared. “When you surf, it’s amazing to realize just how near these incredible creatures can be.”
Despite the close brush with nature, Stevenson expressed he isn’t deterred from enjoying the ocean.”You can’t keep me out of the water after this!” he laughed, highlighting that this rare sighting coincided amusingly with the beginning of Shark Week 2026.
