Great White Shark Splashes Surfer in Close Encounter Caught on Drone

OCEANO, Calif. - A large great white shark swam within feet of surfers off the San Luis Obispo County coast Wednesday morning, splashing one with its tail before turning and swimming away, according to drone footage and the surfer involved.

The encounter occurred around 10:30 a.m. near Pier Avenue. Drone pilot David Steiner captured the moment as the shark, estimated at 12 to 15 feet long, approached a group of surfers. It passed near the board of Oceano resident Joel Hendrix, a longtime local who has surfed for 35 years, then executed a sharp U-turn that sent a splash from its tail onto him before departing.

Hendrix, whose board measures about 9.5 feet, told local reporters he was not injured. "The shark just baptized me with a little splash," he said. He described spotting a shadow and then the fin behind him, realizing the animal's size only as it drew close. He later paddled to shore with others in the group but said he plans to return to the water and does not view the sharks as typically interested in people.

Steiner, who regularly films sharks in the area and shares footage under the Instagram handle @caveman_476, described the clear-water encounter as one of the most vivid he has recorded. No bites or aggressive behavior were reported, and authorities and participants characterized the incident as a close but harmless pass consistent with other recent drone sightings along the Central Coast.

Great white sharks are common in California waters, particularly near seal populations, though documented bites on humans remain rare. The video quickly circulated after Steiner posted it, drawing widespread attention for its proximity and clarity.