Just as the trailer for Blake Lively's new film The Shallows is starting to make the rounds, we have yet another reason to be a little weary of the water. A stretch of coastline in Orange County reopened Tuesday after being closed to the public for the second time in two days after a number of sharks were spotted swimming close to shore. The sightings were only a few miles from the same spot where a woman was attacked by a great white shark over Memorial Day weekend, though it's being said that none of the sharks spotted this week are displaying signs of aggression, according to NBC4.
Some experts suggest that the increased sightings of large sharks along Southern California’s coast may be due to the warm water temperatures related to El Niño. One Huntington Beach official told the Los Angeles Times that shark activity this year is the highest he has seen in over four decades. To prevent any more shark attacks, police helicopters are actively patrolling the area in an attempt to alert beach-goers when larger sharks come close to the sand—but we have another suggestion: stay out of the water.
Seriously, with all these beach openings and closings, one might understandably be a little trepidatious about going too deep into the ocean at the moment. But skipping a beach day doesn’t mean missing out on summer fun. There are plenty of ways to get outside without hitting the seaside. Take a swim at a public pool or scenic swimming hole, trade listening to waves for a fun hike to a waterfall or enjoy some plants other than kelp at one of the best gardens and hidden oases. For more ideas, check out our guide to things to do during summer in LA.