The Meeting Place > General Discussion > Huge great white spotted at popular swimming location

Huge great white spotted at popular swimming location

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Liv Gardiner
3 yrs ago



A few years ago, I was walking along Lorne pier in the peak of summer. Fisherman had been forced down to the far corner of the jetty by children and teenagers leaping into the water from its edges.

I had intended to join them when I overheard a local fisherman and a policeman talking.

"Do you think you should warn them or something?" asked the fisherman, gesturing to the parade of children swimming below them.

"Nah, they know the risks," replied the policeman.

It came to my attention that a six-metre great white shark had been seen circling the waters below the pier just the day before. As riveting as I found this, it was fair to say I didn't go swimming that day.

On Monday, another predator was filmed leisurely swimming between the pillars at Lorne pier at 5.30pm. One man in the video can be heard exclaiming, "S**t! That's a great white!"



While the shark's presence could not be confirmed by lifeguards who inspected the location after being alerted, the beach closed at 6pm.

We seem to be coming face to face with these creatures of the deep more often, despite their drastically declining populations. Why do you think this is?

Does this video make you think twice about going for your next swim this summer?

4 comments
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Suze
3 yrs ago

Makes one wonder why so many people go swimming early in the morning and in the evening when it is a feeding time for the fish.

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fearlessfly
3 yrs ago

Mate, I decided 2-3 years ago that I would NEVER EVER swim in the ocean again in Australian waters, NOR any lake that is open to the sea. Ditto for rivers, they are too damned dangerous with all the snags and currents. I'm keeping my swimming for indoor or outdoor swimming pools !

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fearlessfly
3 yrs ago

A few years ago we went on one of those Great Barrier reef trips where you go snorkelling off a platform. So, we had to put on these crazy looking zoot suits to protect us from jellyfish, they said "all good, all good, it's not the Irikanji season, there's only harmless jellyfish out there". Well, that was partly true, there was a s**tload of big old ordinary jellyfish all over the place, you could not swim without bumping the beggars out of the way. So, after this experience it was into that semi submersible vehicle they use and off to view the coral reefs etc. On the way back, we're closing in on the platform and the guide brings to our attention an Irikanji jellyfish swimming along ! Hello ? Hello ? Not the season ? Did the Irikanji know it was out of season ?

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Tanker
3 yrs ago

It has been widely reported that the sea temperatures have increased more than expected over the last few years. Many fish live within a definite temperature range and so are following that temperature for survival. There appears to be a definite move south down the Australian coast by many types of fish and naturally predators will follow.

Great Whites have a bad reputation and the movie Jaws has to carry some responsibility for that. The guy who wrote the book the movie was made from subsequently learnt a lot more about Great Whites and actually campaigned for their preservation. It is a pity sharks have such poor eyesight because if they could see better they would not bite humans as we do not provide the sort of food they live on. A so-called shark attack is really been a mistake by the shark but the problem is one bite from a shark is very serious, especially from a Great White. Fortunately the apex predator of the oceans tends to be friendly toward humans altho' they do enjoy the liver of Great Whites.

4 comments



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