SAN DIEGO -- A reported sighting of a small great white shark about 500 yards off the coast of La Jolla Cove Thursday prompted lifeguards to issue precautionary warnings to swimmers, surfers and divers entering the ocean in the area.
Two scuba divers said they saw the marine predator -- a roughly 5-foot- long specimen about 1:30 p.m., lifeguard Lt. John Everhart said.
"It's certainly not a big 20 footer or 15 footer," said Everhart. "It was seen well off shore in 30 feet of water and not on the surface."
Due to the depth and distance from land at which the pair of women spotted the shark, lifeguards did not consider the animal's possible lingering presence in the area an imminent public threat, according to Everhart.
"[Reporting parties] are usually people that aren't used to the area or the ocean," he said. "They are tourists that might mistake a dolphin for a sea lion or a shark."
Still, lifeguards warned all entering the water in the area through the afternoon about the reported sighting as a precaution, he said.
Two scuba divers said they saw the marine predator -- a roughly 5-foot- long specimen about 1:30 p.m., lifeguard Lt. John Everhart said.
"It's certainly not a big 20 footer or 15 footer," said Everhart. "It was seen well off shore in 30 feet of water and not on the surface."
Due to the depth and distance from land at which the pair of women spotted the shark, lifeguards did not consider the animal's possible lingering presence in the area an imminent public threat, according to Everhart.
"[Reporting parties] are usually people that aren't used to the area or the ocean," he said. "They are tourists that might mistake a dolphin for a sea lion or a shark."
Still, lifeguards warned all entering the water in the area through the afternoon about the reported sighting as a precaution, he said.
