A video capturing a large shark circling a boat off the coast of Portugal has sparked concern. The shark, believed to be a great white shark measuring between 10ft and 13ft, was spotted near Nazaré, a popular surfing destination known for its massive waves.
The footage, filmed during a boat excursion between São Martinho do Porto and Nazaré, was shared on Instagram by Ocean Adventures on July 25. In their caption, Ocean Adventures described the sighting of the 3/4m long shark approaching and circling the boat without displaying any aggressive behavior.
Although the shark’s species remains unconfirmed, Nuno Santos, who leads the boat tours, suggested it could be a great white based on its coloring. The video, which shows 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 long-distance travels in search of suitable habitats and prey. While sightings of these sharks in the Mediterranean and wider North Atlantic have been recorded, encounters near mainland Portugal are rare. The shark eventually swam away from the boat and disappeared into deeper waters.
