A surfer at Dillon Beach, Marin County, was struck — not bitten — by what officials suspect was a great white shark on Dec. 22; he was uninjured but his surfboard was damaged and blood from the board was collected for DNA testing. The event occurred 200–400 yards offshore in a well-known research area within the "Red Triangle," where great white sightings are common. Officials linked increased activity to growing seal and sea lion populations. The encounter followed the Dec. 21 disappearance of swimmer Erica Fox near Lovers Point, where witnesses reported a shark sighting.
Surfer Unhurt After Suspected Great White Collides With Surfboard Off Dillon Beach
Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via GettyDillon Beach in West Marin County on April 24, 2024
A Northern California surfer escaped injury after an encounter with what officials believe may have been a great white shark off Dillon Beach in Marin County on Dec. 22. The surfer's board was damaged in the impact, and state wildlife officials collected blood from the board for DNA testing to try to identify the species involved.
What Happened
Marin County Fire Department division chief Graham Groneman told the San Francisco Chronicle the incident occurred roughly 200–400 yards offshore and was a strike to the board rather than a bite. "It’s where shark experts do research on great white sharks," Groneman said, noting that shark sightings in the area are not uncommon.
Response and Evidence
Officials from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) removed blood from the damaged surfboard and submitted it for DNA analysis to determine which species was involved. Local social media posts from West Marin Feed showed warning signs posted at Dillon Beach and included photos that appear to show the damaged board. The post added, in part: "Glad everyone is ok."
Ezra Shaw/GettyDillon Beach from April 1, 2020
Area Context: The stretch of coastline that includes Dillon Beach is part of the so-called "Red Triangle"—a region bounded by Bodega Bay, Big Sur and the Farallon Islands—long associated with frequent great white sightings and many of the state's recorded white shark incidents.
Local Factors and Broader Context
Groneman and other officials suggested that increasing populations of seals and sea lions—important prey for great whites—may be contributing to more shark activity near shore. According to the CDFW, California has recorded roughly 230 shark incidents since 1950, 16 of them fatal.
Related Incident
This encounter at Dillon Beach came one day after the disappearance of 55-year-old triathlete Erica Fox near Lovers Point in Pacific Grove (Monterey County) on Dec. 21. Witnesses reported a shark sighting and observed splashing about 100 yards offshore as Fox vanished while swimming with a group. Authorities suspended the search on Dec. 22.
People magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Press Democrat, SURFER, CBS San Francisco and SFGATE provided initial coverage; additional reporting on the Dillon Beach incident was credited to Charna Flam.
