Kelly Smith is a wildlife documentary filmmaker who has edited videos for Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. The following piece is her personal narrative of encountering a great white shark while stand-up paddle boarding off the coast of Santa Barbara.
On Friday, September 11, I was stand-up paddle boarding off Goleta Beach with my friend Michelle Speckler. It was hot — temperatures were in the upper 80s and the sea was calm and crystal clear. There was no wind and the water temperature was about 72 degrees.
I’ve been stand-up paddle boarding 3 to 4 times a week for more than 3 years. I’ve encountered harbor seals, sea lions, bottlenose dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, a mega-pod of common dolphins, and gray whales. Once I was even lucky enough to find myself in the middle of a bait ball of swarming small fish and all the creatures it attracted. I qualify as an experienced stand-up paddle boarder. I also edit documentaries for Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. I’ve seen hundreds of sharks while editing these videos and I know a great deal about their appearance and behavior.