Drones Capture Sharks Getting Uncomfortably Close To Florida Beachgoers

Using a drone to capture amazing videos like this one is a new pastime for many. In this video, a photographer using a drone to get overhead shots captured sharks in the water as they swam toward people enjoying the ocean by a Florida beach.

The people were close to the shore. The water was shallow enough that they could easily stand and it was still only around waist-high. Amazingly, the shark was even closer to the shore and the video shows the ominous dark outline of the animal under the water.

The people saw the drone, waving and looking up at the camera, but not the shark. As the waves pushed against them, they continued to watch the drone, remaining oblivious to the large animal just a few feet away. With each wave, the shark was pushed a little bit closer to shore but remained in the water near the unsuspecting people.

The water is not very clear and it’s hard to make out what type of shark it is. Based on its size and the way that it moves in the water, it’s almost certainly some type of shark. At one point, the dorsal fin appears to break the surface briefly. But because of the video quality, it’s hard to be sure. Fortunately for the people and the shark, the encounter ends without any real interaction. Even though the people remained unaware of the shark, the animal was definitely able to see them using its keen eyesight and other senses. The shark didn’t get aggressive and kept some distance from the people.

Sharks in Florida

There are multiple types of sharks that live in the warm waters off both the Gulf side and the Atlantic side of Florida. Hammerhead sharks, nurse sharks, mako sharks, tiger sharks, and blacktip sharks are some of the most common. It is unusual for sharks to get this close to shore, however, it does happen. It was just the right place at the right time for the drone to get this amazing shot.

The most dangerous shark that it could be is a bull shark. Shark attacks are rare, but bull sharks tend to be involved more than most other species. These sharks frequent shallow water in their search for food. People, such as these two in the video, tend to stick to shallower water as well most of the time. This means that bull sharks naturally cross paths with people more often than sharks who prefer to stay in the deeper parts of the ocean. These sharks might mistake humans swimming for small prey that could make a good meal. Bull sharks are also more territorial in many cases, which can cause them to react more aggressively when they feel threatened.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Harry Collins Photography/Shutterstock.com