MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – A budding marine scientist has a warning for beachgoers in the wake of a recent shark sighting: keep a close eye on your surroundings when you're in the water.
Nicki Welch-Hudson said she was at Myrtle Beach on Thursday when lifeguards ordered everyone out of the water. A blacktip shark was seen swimming near the shore, not far from where children play.
"My intention is to educate tourists and the public about marine wildlife," Welch-Hudson told News4Jax in a Wednesday interview.
Welch-Hudson shared video of the sighting, which shows the shark swimming in the shallows parallel to the shore with its fin skating along the surface of the water.
The clip is just another reminder to be wary of jellyfish, sharks and rip currents, among other potential dangers, when you hit the beach this summer.
Shore-based shark fishing and warmer waters in the Atlantic Ocean are known to attract sharks to feed in shallower waters with low visibility.
According to the Florida Museum, you can take the following steps to avoid an unlikely but unwanted encounter with a shark. You can view the complete list on the museum's website: