The beach is one of the most relaxing places in the world. As you lay in the sand and listen to the waves splashing onto the shore, your troubles all melt away.
The beach is truly something special.
Between all the sunshine, the sand between your toes, and the open water, it’s a unique experience that has no counterpart in the world. The best part is when you have an entire beach or ocean to yourself.
The serenity you experience is calming and soothing.
But there’s a fine line between having the beach and the ocean to yourself and thinking you have the water to yourself.
A pair of tourists learned this firsthand when they were relaxing in the ocean in Destin, Florida. The man and woman were enjoying their time in the water, not a care in the world.
Then, people suddenly started yelling at them from a penthouse overlooking the water.
“Hey, shark!” the people videoing shouted. “There’s a shark.”
The couple couldn’t see the shark, and they didn’t realize just how close to them it was.
The couple stayed in the water even as the shark moved closer and closer. Finally, the couple saw the shark and ran from the water.
But it turned out, the shark wasn’t interested in them. It was chasing a stingray.
Once they were safely on the shore, the couple turned to watch the hammerhead shark that had come so close to them. We’re sure they were feeling some shock after that close encounter.
The person who took the video of the couple posted it on YouTube. It quickly went viral, garnering over 6 million views. As more people watched the video, one question kept coming up: Why hadn’t the couple run out of the water when the people in the penthouse started yelling at them?
But then, the sister of the man in the video, Dawn Uranga, commented and answered this question.
“This was my brother & his wife….in their defense he said he thought you guys were messing with them and just wanted to see an old man run….glad you got it on video so we can make fun of him,” Dawn said.
Even though we understand why the couple was frightened, they most likely had nothing to worry about. Hammerhead sharks aren’t typically dangerous to humans.
“Attacks on humans are extremely rare. Only 3 of the 9 Hammerhead species (Great, Scalloped, and Smooth Hammerheads) have ever attacked a human. The vast majority of the time, these sharks are safe for divers in open waters. Like Reef Sharks, they give warning signals before attacking, such as a series of wild contortions. Trained divers know these signs and how to deal with an agitated Hammerhead Shark,” writes Sharksider.
However, even if these sharks aren’t usually dangerous, it is still best to give him space and treat them with respect.
We’re sure this couple will remember their encounter with the shark forever. What an experience!
Check out the video of the shark below.
Please SHARE this video with your friends and family.
Source: Scott McCain, Sharksider
