Horrifying moment surfer comes face-to-face with monster great white shark

Startling new footage shows the moment a surfer came face-to-face with an eight-foot great whiteshark during a paddle at the beach.

Carlos Gauna, 45, had been filming with his drone camera when he captured the close encounter off the coast of Santa Barbara, California on June 30. In the clip, a man in red shorts is seen lying face down on his surfboard as the dark-coloured shark moves towards him under the water.

A fin is then seen protruding above the waves, though the surfer appears unfazed, and continues to paddle forward while looking directly at the shark. Though the clip may appear unnerving, experts say great white sharks of this size generally don’t pose a serious threat to humans.

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Instead, the juveniles belong to a unique coastal population that prefers warm, shallow waters — commonly referred to as nursery habitats — where they look for small fish for food, away from the dangers of larger predators.

Photographer Carlos Gauna, 45, from Ventura County, California, said: "That was another young juvenile white shark that was near shore. What often happens is surfers, sometimes we'll see a dorsal fin and, as backwards as that may seem, they'll paddle over to the shark and take a closer look."

Juvenile white sharks, usually ranging from six to ten feet long, are still developing their hunting skills and typically do not target large prey.

Mr Gauna said: “These are juvenile white sharks that don't necessarily pose a significant threat to a surfer because they don't go after large prey at this point in their life.

“So even as juveniles, it's a big fish. I mean, eight feet is a juvenile, and it’s still a big fish.”

The population of the sharks tends to increase in warmer months, when ocean temperatures rise and human beach activity is at its peak.

Santa Barbara’s coast remains a hotspot for juvenile white sharks, attracting attention from researchers, conservationists, and thrill-seeking surfers alike - and the photographer stressed that anyone paddling in the sea should not try and approach them.

He said: "If you ever find yourself in a situation where you'd see whether it's a juvenile shark or a large adult white shark, just give it space.

"Eventually, it’ll figure out what you are and probably go on its own way. Don't chase it and just let it be. It’s important to give these sharks the space they need. They’re a big part of the coastal ecosystem and deserve our respect."