The Shark Was Closer Than They Knew — Until They Hit Shore

Quick Take

• They paddled out to find the shark on purpose, not realizing how close it actually got until they were back on dry land. See their close call →
• One piece of equipment made the difference between a close call and a catastrophe, and it wasn't on either paddleboard.
• Santa Barbara's coastline attracts great white sharks for a very specific reason, and that reason has nothing to do with the people in the water. Learn about the nursery →
• A weather event declared just days before this encounter is set to make great white sightings far more frequent along Southern California's coast this year. See El Niño's impact →

The rule of thumb is to stay out of the ocean when shark sightings are reported. Recently, a male and a female paddleboarder disregarded warnings and decided to paddle out to see the shark in its natural habitat. Little did they know, the shark was so close that it could have leapt onto their paddleboards.

Paddleboarders Get Up Close and Personal With a Shark

Two paddleboarders off the coast of Santa Barbara did not realize how close their encounter with a shark truly was until they made it back to shore.

On June 21, 2026, Kayla Ross and a companion were in the ocean on paddleboards after celebrating Father’s Day with their family. They went out on their paddleboards specifically to try to locate the shark after sightings had been reported.

According to ABC 7 News, the pair headed out to the ocean to see the shark in its element. Kayla Ross’s uncle assisted them by sending a drone out over the ocean. Shortly after reaching the drone’s location, the male companion told Ross that the shark was trailing uncomfortably close and that it was best to head back in.

“We paddled pretty far out ’cause we went to the drone,” Ross explained to ABC 7 News. “And then he said that he saw something and that we had to head back to shore right now.”

Ross said she did not see the shark because she was focused on paddling forward, and described the experience as “nerve-wracking.” The size and proximity of the shark were not discovered until Ross and her companion returned to shore.

Luckily, for all involved, there were no injuries. For her part, the incident did not deter Ross from returning to the ocean; she said she “would go and do it again.”

The Shark in Question is Not Uncommon in Santa Barbara

Great white sharks are the most commonly sighted sharks off the coast of Santa Barbara. Therefore, it is not surprising that the shark that circled the paddleboarders was confirmed to be a great white.

Santa Barbara County, specifically off the coast of Carpinteria, is a known great white shark nursery location. The sharks thrive in this area due to the shallow, warmer water ranging from 60°F to 71°F. These juvenile sharks travel between Santa Barbara, the Channel Islands, and Morro Bay for several years before they are mature enough to move into deeper waters.

Great White Sightings Will Be More Common This Year

Great white shark sightings are not uncommon off the coast of Santa Barbara, especially between September and November when they are at the height of their migration. However, this year, due to El Niño conditions, there are expected to be more great white sharks off the coast of Southern California, including Santa Barbara.

On June 11, 2026, the NOAA officially declared El Niño was underway. El Niño brings warmer ocean temperatures to the Southern California coast, creating ideal nursery conditions for white sharks and providing abundant prey. Consequently, the number of great white shark interactions is expected to be higher this year than in the past several years.

Despite this, it bears repeating that shark attacks are still uncommon. The chances of being attacked by a shark are one in 11.5 million in the United States. That said, tempting fate is never wise. For safety, it is best to stay out of the water after a confirmed shark sighting rather than paddling out to find one.