A Shark Circled This Surfer — a Drone Operator Noticed Before He Did

Quick Take

• Unable to call out or wave, the drone operator resorted to an unconventional trick to alert the surfer before it was too late. See how he warned the surfer →
• Most shark encounters near surfers end quickly, but something about this one was different enough to make an experienced drone operator genuinely nervous for the first time. Read the operator's account →
• The great white's size relative to the surfboard hints at just how close to catastrophe this encounter really was. See the great white's size →
• A climate event declared just days after this incident means encounters like this are about to get far more common, and not just in Aptos. Explore the El Niño threat →

A potentially dangerous encounter for a surfer off the coast of California was foiled recently after a shark decided to circle him. Thanks to the actions of a drone operator, no one was any worse for wear after the close encounter.

Drone Operator Tries to Warn Surfer About Shark Attack

Aptos, California, is no stranger to shark activity. Those who surf in the ocean off the Central Coast know they share the water with sharks. Some even come close to investigate surfers. Recently, one approached a bit too closely for comfort, and the encounter was captured on video by a drone operator in the area.

On June 12, 2026, Nick Bertocchini, a wedding photographer, school teacher, and part-time drone operator, was flying a drone off of Seascape Beach in Aptos. As the drone flew over a surfer, later identified as Rex, Bertocchini noticed he was not alone. A shark was in pursuit.

The Instagram video, which has since gone viral, showed the shark approaching Rex. However, this was not just a brief investigation. According to Bertocchini, who has witnessed many shark encounters with surfers, this situation appeared to be different.

“I’ve spent a lot of time flying my drone watching sharks around surfers,” Bertocchini explained on his Instagram post, “and this was one of the only times I was actually nervous.”

The shark not only approached Rex to investigate, but it also began to circle.

“Usually the sharks are slightly curious and move on quickly,” Bertocchini said, “but this one seemed a little more investigative than usual.”

Bertocchini said he tried to warn Rex about the shark by “revving the drone motors” and “moving to the side of the shark.” Fortunately, Rex understood what Bertocchini was attempting to do. Rex was able to paddle out of the area unharmed.

Shark in Drone Footage was a Great White

The area where the drone footage was taken is Aptos, California, located along the Central Coast. This region is known for shark activity, specifically great white sharks.

Based on the aerial footage of the shark, experts who have seen it agree that the shark that tailed the surfer was a great white. No exact measurements of the shark were given. However, the individual shark was sizable, appearing larger than the surfboard that Rex was on. To put this in perspective, shortboards range in size between 5’6″ and 6’6″. It is unknown where the board fell within this range.

If the great white shark had wanted to pursue Rex further, the outcome could have been bleak. Fortunately, as Bertocchini points out in his Instagram post, the majority of great white sharks are prone to doing a quick investigation and moving on. While this investigation was a bit close for comfort, no one was harmed.

Why Will There Be More Shark Activity in California This Year?

The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center declared in mid-June 2026 that El Niño conditions had developed. These conditions mean that more sharks are likely to be found off the coast of California than in previous years. As a result, videos like the one captured by Bertocchini may become more common.

Off the coast of Baja, California, Mexico, there are great white shark nurseries. The water off the coast is likely to become too warm for the sharks to be comfortable. Consequently, according to Chris Lowe, Director of the Shark Lab and professor of Marine Biology at Cal State Long Beach, sharks will be on the move.

“So what we expect is places off Baja where there are big white shark nurseries, those sharks might get moved into Southern California,” Lowe explained to Fox Weather, “and some of those Southern California white sharks might get moved up to Central California if the water gets too warm, which we suspect is going to be a cooker.”

This means that people who spend time in the water will need to be more aware of their surroundings. Even if sharks are not typically near the shoreline in stretches of California, this year may be different. Therefore, heed signs that indicate shark sightings and do not enter the water if they are present. It is better to be safe than sorry.