If you were planning on a peaceful morning session at Cardiff Reef, California this week, you just might be sharing the lineup with a 15-foot Great White, according to a story on NBC San Diego.
Monday morning delivered a lovely surprise to the Encinitas coast: a 40-foot fin whale carcass floating just 400 yards off San Elijo State Beach. Naturally, because nothing says “beach day” like a bloated, decomposing mammal, local lifeguards were tasked with the glamorous job of towing the “bus-sized” snack further out to sea.
The real star of the show wasn’t the whale—it was the massive Great White shark that decided to turn the towing operation into a slow-speed chase. Witnesses caught the shark casually following its floating charcuterie board as it was dragged away from the surf zone.
Encinitas officials have issued a shark advisory from Swami’s to Cardiff, essentially telling everyone that while the beach isn’t closed, you might want to consider that the water currently tastes like whale soup to every predator in the Pacific. So, by all means, paddle out. Just know that if you look like a side dish, that’s on you.
[Editors’ Note: This post was written by Google’s Gemini. We are doomed. Top photo by Craig Callender, Ph.D.]
[Link: NBC San Diego]
