An incredible scene unfolded on Sunday at Les Deveses beach in Dénia, Alicante, when a blue shark (Prionace glauca) ventured close to the shore, leaving beachgoers in shock.
The encounter occurred around 1.00 pm near the Lamar restaurant. While most people quickly exited the water in fear, one brave dog stunned everyone by diving into the sea to confront the shark.
Heroic dog faces shark
As swimmers fled the water, a dog on the beach had a very different reaction. Without hesitation, the dog leapt from the rocks and swam directly towards the shark. The moment was captured on video and quickly went viral across social media. Onlookers can be heard in the footage shouting, “No, little dog!” as the brave canine swam closer to the predator.
@elespanolcom 🦈🐕 Un tiburón aparece en la playa de Denia (Alicante) y un perro lo persigue: “¡No, perrito!” El perro se lanzó al agua a por él y la mayoría de bañistas se salieron para esquivar al tiburón: “Ven aquí, ven aquí” 👉 Ha ocurrido este domingo en la playa de Les Deveses y aunque el animal tenía en mente acercarse lo máximo posible al tiburón, se ha arrepentido nada más verlo de cerca 🎥 @/davidlopeze #tiburón #perro #alicante #playa #denia #españa ♬ sonido original – EL ESPAÑOL 🦁
Fortunately, the blue shark, commonly known as a tintorera, did not respond aggressively. It remained calm and eventually swam away, leaving both the dog and the crowd unharmed.
Blue shark: A rare and harmless visitor
The blue shark is known for its striking blue back and white belly. These sharks typically inhabit temperate and tropical waters worldwide and can grow up to three metres long. Despite their size, blue sharks are not considered dangerous to humans, as they primarily feed on fish and squid. While encounters with sharks on Spanish beaches are rare, there have been occasional sightings of blue sharks along the Mediterranean coast in recent years.
Reactions on social media
The incident has sparked widespread reactions online. Many users expressed a mix of admiration and concern for the dog’s fearless actions, with comments like, “Where is the dog’s owner?” and “If that were my dog, I’d be so worried!” flooding social media posts.
Experts continue to assure the public that blue sharks pose little risk to humans, as they typically avoid contact. While the encounter was dramatic, it serves as a reminder that these marine animals are usually more curious than dangerous