CORONADO (CNS) - Lifeguards at Silver Strand State Beach have issued a 24-hour advisory after a surfer reported seeing a shark near the south end of the beach Saturday morning, authorities said.
The beach was not closed, but the advisory means swimmers and surfers "enter at their own risk,'' said John Anderson, the lead lifeguard at the beach for the state Department of Parks and Recreation.
Based on descriptions from the surfer, who was described as a credible witness, lifeguards estimate he spotted a great white shark between eight and 10 feet long, Anderson said.
The reported sighting happened about 8:15 a.m. near lifeguard tower one near the south end of the beach's parking lots, Anderson said.
Lifeguards at the state beach issued a similar advisory June 8 after two surfers reported seeing a great white shark they estimated was about eight feet long. Anderson said the two sightings in the last month are not typical for the popular beach on the southern end of Coronado.
The advisory did not stop a group of lifeguards from California, Hawaii and Australia from entering the water as part of a two-day competition that was wrapping up today, Anderson said. The lifeguards were given the option to halt the competition but decided to go ahead with it despite the advisory.