Is this a shark?

[ayepatz]

Just now, Ken Gargett said:

NEVER understood how the mayor got through that film without becoming dinner. 

Shark-repellent sports jackets.

[Colt45]

2 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

my immediate thought was a small killer whale.

My first thought as well. It's not typical, but they have been spotted off the northeast USA. Though no caudal or tail fin is visible, if a shark, my guess would be a smallish basking shark.

[cfc1016]

False killer whale?

[SigmundChurchill]

I just got this text back from the Marine Division ...

No bother at all. It is believed to have been a shark. One of the lifeguards spotted it not long after you.

[Bill Hayes]

On 7/29/2018 at 4:54 PM, cfc1016 said:

False killer whale?

My first thought was this. False killer whale. Seen them schooling in Mexico and heard them while scuba diving. Could also be a porpoise. If it was a shark the tail would probably be showing as well as the dorsal fin. Is the body that's pictured the back end or the front end?

[bayala]

Definitely a marine mammal. Doplhin, porpoise, false killer whale etc.  

[Dynamo320]

On vacation now in the Turks & Caicos. Went out snorkeling yesterday at a shoreline reef that I’ve been to many times. Was ready to wrap it up after the typical same old same old. Saw an outline of something out of the ordinary right below me maybe 15 feet away. Yep, black tipped reef shark the same size as me or bigger and  I’m 6’3”. Utterly terrifying yet exhilarating at the same time

[Bill Hayes]

9 minutes ago, Dynamo320 said:

On vacation now in the Turks & Caicos. Went out snorkeling yesterday at a shoreline reef that I’ve been to many times. Was ready to wrap it up after the typical same old same old. Saw an outline of something out of the ordinary right below me maybe 15 feet away. Yep, black tipped reef shark the same size as me or bigger and  I’m 6’3”. Utterly terrifying yet exhilarating at the same time

Black tip reef shark are usually no problem. They are very curious and quite animated. But they are a bit crazy when there is a dead or dying fish in the water. I've had one bolt up from the bottom and try and steal the fish off my my spear when spearfishing. Fantastic that you got to see one in their natural environment. It's always a buzz.

[SigmundChurchill]

1 hour ago, Bill Hayes said:

My first thought was this. False killer whale. Seen them schooling in Mexico and heard them while scuba diving. Could also be a porpoise. If it was a shark the tail would probably be showing as well as the dorsal fin. Is the body that's pictured the back end or the front end?

It’s the front end.  At times the tail was showing, but not in the picture.  

[Bill Hayes]

45 minutes ago, SigmundChurchill said:

It’s the front end.  At times the tail was showing, but not in the picture.  

Could very well be a shark then. Not knowing the water temp where you are, but if it is still pretty cold water could be a great white shark or it's cousin the Salmon Shark. They are the only type of sharks that can regulate their body temp through their circulatory system, running cold blood through their tail to heat it up while swimming. Cool! Edit - Salmon sharks are northern pacific. PS. Like everyone else, I have no idea. ?

[Str8BlkCoffee]

I grew up surfing in Virginia. Normally when it is a shark you will see the dorsal and tail breaking the water with porpoise one will only see the dorsal. Porpoise will swim in pods too so when you see one there will be others nearby.

[westg]

Hmmmm head to dorsal reminds me of an old friend....Mr Whitey

[SigmundChurchill]

14 minutes ago, westg said:

Hmmmm head to dorsal reminds me of an old friend....Mr Whitey

Apparently a lifeguard spotted it soon after I did, and he said it was a shark.  Whatever it is, I hope it’s long gone.

[ElJavi76]

Hey Elliot @SigmundChurchill could this be your goldfish? Check out the drone pic of the paddleboarder, feet away from a shark up in Cape Cod. 

http://www.capecodtimes.com/news/20180730/great-white-shark-shadows-unsuspecting-paddleboarder

 

[Ken Gargett]

mystery solved - a wholphin! 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/31/dont-call-it-a-wholphin-first-sighting-of-rare-whale-dolphin-hybrid?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Green+Light+2016&utm_term=282539&subid=1392341&CMP=EMCENVEML1631

[El Hoze]

17 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

mystery solved - a wholphin! 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/31/dont-call-it-a-wholphin-first-sighting-of-rare-whale-dolphin-hybrid?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Green+Light+2016&utm_term=282539&subid=1392341&CMP=EMCENVEML1631

I think calling it a wholphin makes all the sense in the world.