A video capturing a large shark swimming near a boat off the coast of Nazaré in Portugal has raised concerns. The shark, potentially a great white shark measuring between 10 to 13 feet, was spotted about two nautical miles from the shore, an area well-known for its massive waves attracting surfers.
The video, recorded during a boat excursion between São Martinho do Porto and Nazaré, was shared on Instagram by Ocean Adventures on July 25. Ocean Adventures described the encounter in the caption, mentioning that the shark, estimated to be 3/4 meters long, approached the boat and circled around without posing any threat.
Although the shark’s species remains unconfirmed, Nuno Santos, who runs the boat tours, suggested it could be a great white shark based on its appearance. The footage, showing the shark’s dorsal fin breaking the water’s surface, has garnered over 670,000 views on social media platforms.
Great white sharks are known for their ability to cover vast distances in search of suitable environments and prey across oceans. While sightings of these sharks in the Mediterranean and broader North Atlantic have been recorded, encounters near mainland Portugal are considered rare.
After its brief interaction with the boat, the shark eventually swam away and disappeared into deeper waters.