La Jolla Shores Reopens After Great White Shark Sighting Monday

San Diego lifeguards reopened La Jolla Shores Tuesday morning following a great white shark sighting a day earlier. Officials said there was no reason to believe the 12 to 15 foot shark was still in the area.

"By now the shark is likely miles away," said San Diego Lifeguard Lt. Andy Lerum on Tuesday morning.

At 3:15 p.m. on Monday, a lifeguard in the water spotted a shark about 50 yards from the shore near the La Jolla Shores Lifeguard Station.

"(The lifeguard) was on an 11-foot rescue board at the time when the shark went directly underneath her and she estimated it was 14 to 15 feet in length," said Lerum.

“It is not normal for sharks to exists in San Diego waters. It is unusual to see a shark as large and as close to the beach of La Jolla Shores,” said Lerum.

Lifeguards searched the immediate area on Monday afternoon from a helicopter, from the lifeguard towers, and from the water in boats and Jet Skis. The shark was not found.

No other shark sightings were reported, however San Diego lifeguards made the decision to close La Jolla Shores from the Marine Room to Scripps Pier on Monday afternoon.

The last shark sighting in La Jolla was on Aug. 31, 2011 when a group of surfers reportedly spotted the 12-inch dorsal fin of a shark south of Casa Reef in La Jolla. The last shark attack was a fatal attack off Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach, about 12 miles from La Jolla Shores, in April 2008.

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