A mysterious shark fin was spotted just yards from the shore near Porthcawl, South Wales, on Saturday, causing fear among beach-goers. Locals were divided on what species the fin belonged to, with some speculating it was a basking shark and others fearing it was a great white.
The fin was observed by Dan Santillo, who described it as moving slowly and remaining visible for about 30 minutes. While basking sharks are found in UK waters, they are not typically seen in November as they migrate to deeper or warmer regions for winter.
Great white sharks have never been officially documented in British waters, though there are a few unverified historical accounts. The uncertainty and the similar dorsal fin appearance of both species led to differing opinions.
Some onlookers expressed fear and reluctance to approach the creature, while others shared past encounters that heightened their anxiety. Experts note that distinguishing between the two large species from the surface can be difficult, and the number of plausible great white sightings in UK waters is very low.
