Hilton Head beach cleared Monday afternoon for large shark in the water
Hilton Head Island’s Coligny Beach area was cleared early Monday afternoon for a shark spotted swimming just off the coast.
Swimmers and beachgoers spotted the shark and estimated its length at 8 feet. Lifeguards said the fish was about 5 feet long.
Lifeguards from Shore Beach Service and Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputies ordered everyone out of the water. The beach was hushed as dozens of people watched the ominous fins go by.
The beach around marker 61 was cleared from around 12:15 p.m. until just before 12:45 p.m., according to Mike Wagner with Shore Beach Service.
The lifeguards identified the fish as a Blacktip shark, which is common to coastal tropical, subtropical and brackish waters.
Monday’s low tide was around noon.
As the tide was coming back in, people on the beach reported seeing several dolphins in the area as well as the darker fins associated with the shark.
Shark versus dolphin fins
It can be scary to see any fins while you’re swimming.
Here’s how to tell the difference between shark and dolphin fins, from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation:
Dolphins and sharks both have dorsal fins on their backs, two pectoral fins on their sides, and a tail.
Sharks’ tail fins are vertical and they use them in a side-to-side motion to swim, while dolphins’ tails are horizontal and they use them in an up-and-down motion to swim.
This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 1:02 PM.
