Terrified Paddleboarders Capture Close Encounter with Great White Shark in Cape Cod – ‘We Got to Go’ [WATCH]

Two college students enjoying a peaceful Fourth of July evening paddleboarding off the coast of Cape Cod had an unforgettable brush with one of the ocean’s most iconic predators—a great white shark.

Margaret Bowles, a Harvard University student, and her friend Maddie Cronin, a student at the University of Toronto, were paddling in the calm waters off Woods Hole, located on the southwest tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

The two were relaxing and capturing the moment when their idyllic outing took a sudden, shocking turn.

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Cronin was recording a video of Bowles splashing playfully when something unexpected breached the water nearby—a large, gray dorsal fin.

In the now widely shared video, Bowles can be seen suddenly jumping to her feet on the paddleboard and exclaiming “Oh,” clearly startled by what she saw.

“I see this big fin pop up next to her, it’s like eight inches out of the water, sort of fleshy, gray and I’m like, ‘Oh my goodness, that’s a shark, we got to go,’” Bowles recounted in an interview with WHDH.

Initially unsure of what they had seen, the two friends reviewed Cronin’s video and photos after safely making it back to shore. That’s when it hit them: the fin had belonged to a great white shark, and it had come dangerously close—just feet from Cronin’s paddleboard.

Image Credit: Screenshot / WHDH

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The dramatic image they captured showed Bowles’ terrified expression as the fin sliced through the water’s surface, making for an unforgettable snapshot of a rare and intense wildlife encounter.

Though startled, both students managed to stay composed during the incident. They remained on their boards and paddled calmly back to the beach. Their composure likely helped ensure a safe escape from what could have been a far more dangerous situation.

“Once we were back to shore, I was kind of like ‘No way, they aren’t here,’” Bowles said.

“It took a second to register that was what happened, but it was a complete surprise. I’ve spent time teaching marine biology here and swimming in the ocean. I certainly never expected for a great white shark to wander my way.”

Image Credit: Screenshot / WHDH

She added, “I always operated under the assumption that there were no sharks in Woods Hole. I would have friends down and they’d ask, ‘Are there sharks here?’ And I’d be like, ‘No, no way.’”

The students submitted the footage and photos to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, who confirmed that the shark was indeed a great white.

The sighting occurred in Buzzards Bay, off the shore of Stoney Beach—an area where such appearances are exceptionally rare.

According to the Cape and Islands station, this was the first confirmed sighting of a great white shark in Buzzards Bay since 2004.

Greg Skomal, a shark biologist with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, explained that while most great white activity is concentrated along the Outer Cape, sharks do occasionally venture into other waters.

Image Credit: Screenshot / WHDH

“The general perception that white sharks are predominantly along the Outer Cape is actually quite true based on the data we’ve collected,” Skomal told the outlet.

“But that’s not to say that sharks don’t move to other parts of Massachusetts, and we’ve been able to demonstrate that occasionally they do enter Buzzards Bay.”

He emphasized that such encounters, while rare, should be approached with a calm mindset. “The best approach is that if you see a shark, don’t panic.

The probability of being bitten is very, very low. Nonetheless, if you’re concerned about your safety, just move away calmly and avoid interacting with the shark in any way.”

Image Credit: Screenshot / WHDH

Back on dry land, Bowles and Cronin were able to laugh about the experience.

They even named the shark “Steve,” joking that he must have gotten lost and was merely stopping by for directions.

“I’ve already gone swimming since then. I love the ocean. What happened was incredibly unlikely,” Bowles said, noting that she wasn’t letting the incident keep her from enjoying the beach.

Still, she added one caveat: “That seems unadvisable at the time,” she said of swimming in her wetsuit again. “Hopefully Steve moves on and I’ll get right back to it.”

Despite the scare, the two friends remain unfazed and grateful that the encounter ended safely—offering both a thrilling story and a reminder that even in familiar waters, nature can always surprise us.

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