Wavelength Surf Magazine – since 1981

Shark Swims Around Surfers In Bryon Bay

A shark has been spotted casually swimming beneath surfers in Byron bay, NSW.

The clip was filmed by American tourist Derik Broshar and features a shark swimming beneath surfers, an one taking off on a wave just above it. The shark, however, thankfully seems disinterested by it’s fellow water users and does not make any movements to interact with the surfers.

The footage was captured less than two weeks after two surfers had encounters with sharks on the same day along the NSW coast. In the first, Byron surfer Jade Fitzpatrick sustained puncture wounds to his leg after a shark wrapped its jaws around Jade and his board, seemingly letting go after it bit into the fin of the board. Later that same day local pro Asher Pacey was bumped off his board at Lennox head.

The NSW government are planing to introduce legislation that will allow shark nets to be installed in the area when parliament resumes this month. Although the nets have been proven to reduce encounters between ocean users and sharks, they are still a controversial solution, as they run the risk of entangling other marine life such as turtle’s and dolphins which are also prevalent in the area.