closure

San Clemente Beach Open Again Following Shark Sightings

The beach had been closed Sunday and Monday morning

Just in time for the Memorial Day holiday, swimmers are allowed back in the water at a Southern California beach closed after four sharks were spotted close to shore.

Officials in San Clemente said the waves were off limits Sunday from one mile (1.6 km) north to one mile (1.6 km) south of the city beach's pier. The water was reopened again Sunday afternoon.

On Monday around 11 a.m., someone flying a drone spotted another shark and showed the footage to a lifeguard, who believed the shark was larger than 8 feet long. That prompted a closure.

A little after 3 p.m., lifeguards did a final check of the water and lifted the closure, downgrading it to an advisory and thus letting beachgoers know that the beach was open, but to enter at their own risk.

Closures were ordered in the same area a week ago after two dozen great whites were seen, including one about 10 feet (3 meters) long.

Juvenile great whites, typically under 8 feet (2.4 meters), are common along Southern California, where they feed on small fish.

Last month a woman was bitten by a 10-foot (3 meter) white shark at San Onofre State Beach, south of San Clemente.

Contact Us