Although, for those in San Diego, this picture might make them think twice.
A terrifying photograph shows the moment a Great White shark was spotted in a wave in Encinitas, California - just a few feet away from completely oblivious surfers.
© CBS8
Lurking: The shark, furthest right, swims through the wave the surfers try to ride
Lurking: The shark, furthest right, swims through the wave the surfers try to ride
'It looks pretty clear to me,' Mr Elliott told CBS8. 'It doesn't look like a surfer. It's not the silhouette of a board.'
The claim was initially disregarded by lifeguards at the beach.
Robert Veria said the photograph had, in fact, captured the moment a surfer duck dived into the wave with his or her knees bent.
© CBS8
Lucky escape: The surfer did not even realise the huge shark was beneath him
Lucky escape: The surfer did not even realise the huge shark was beneath him
© CBS8
Brave or reckless? Surfers continue to ride the waves in San Diego despite the sighting
Brave or reckless? Surfers continue to ride the waves in San Diego despite the sighting
Ralph Collier, from the Shark Research Committee, told CBS8: 'In my opinion, we are looking at the tail end of an animal that is... 10 to 12 feet, maybe a little more.
Officials said despite the sighting the beach would remain open for the weekend.
The stunning image was taken as two-mile stretch of coastline in La Jolla was reopened yesterday despite three confirmed sightings in a week along the San Diego coast.
© Associated Press
Huge: A surfer, top, catches a big wave in Newport Beach, California, yesterday
Huge: A surfer, top, catches a big wave in Newport Beach, California, yesterday
© Associated Press
Dangerous: Fans came out to watch the daredevils ride the massive Californian waves
Dangerous: Fans came out to watch the daredevils ride the massive Californian waves
Fishermen also found a dead baby seal off the Ocean Beach pier with shark bite marks.
Another two mile stretch of beach in the area was closes last week after a lifeguard saw an 18 inch dorsal fin.
© Associated Press
Fierce: The waves crashed down with huge force as surfers battled the conditions
Fierce: The waves crashed down with huge force as surfers battled the conditions
Authorities issued warnings about waves pounding the central California coast that left a swimmer missing and caused a marijuana smuggling boat to crash onto a beach.
Lifeguards conducted dozens of rescues and the massive surf also caused some damage to the Ocean Beach and San Clemente piers.
So rare to see some real sized waves in Cali, of course they do get better the further south you go. Not sure on that shark potential, how often are they seen 'riding the waves' as this pic seems to show? Need someone with more experience to question this photo, which is like many UFO pics in that it's hard to see much of anything. Those regulars to that beach know the area's surf and are usually constantly on the lookout for sharks that creep to close for comfort. Of course, the increase surf can be tempting to both sides of the equation. How often do sharks enter waters with that many surfers in the area? Most of them would attack the shark, not swim away from it. Just seems that if it is a shark, perhaps it got caught up in the storm waves as well.