A Surprising Encounter
David Rogers, a 55-year-old dog walker, stumbled upon an unexpected sight while strolling along the Southampton shoreline with his miniature schnauzer, Luna.
Spotting a large shark fin just meters away from the shore, Rogers was initially taken aback, questioning if it was a prank.
From Prank to Reality
Referencing the iconic film ‘Jaws,’ Rogers humorously contemplated the situation, quipping, “I’m certainly not going skinny dipping anymore.” He quickly realized the shark was no hoax, situated 15 to 20 meters offshore, intriguingly just hovering in the water.
Identifying the Mystery
Convinced it wasn’t a dolphin due to its size and lack of activity, Rogers observed the fish for several minutes, capturing photos to share the encounter with his partner, Vicky Siou.
Their subsequent investigation, involving Vicky’s father, an avid wildlife photographer, led them to identify the shark as a likely basking shark, a harmless species frequenting British coastal waters.
Unraveling the Basking Shark
Despite being one of the largest fish globally, basking sharks pose minimal risk to humans, feeding solely on plankton filtered from the water.
The sighting near Solent Breezes Holiday Park, where Southampton Water meets the Solent, indicated the shark’s leisurely swim closer to the shore.
Reactions and Reflections
Vicky Siou, Rogers’ partner, expressed both surprise and fascination, contemplating a return visit to catch a glimpse herself.
However, her sentiments about the sea remained unchanged, emphasizing her reluctance to enter its waters after such a remarkable sighting.
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