Dozens of sharks swarm Gold Coast beach

A group of critically endangered sharks delighted ocean enthusiasts when they appeared at a popular Gold Coast beach.

Gold Coast locals had a remarkable up-close encounter with a group of sharks this weekend. Picture: Instagram

Gold Coast ocean enthusiasts have had an incredible, up-close encounter with a critically endangered shark species after witnessing a magnificent swarming event at a popular beach.

Swimmers, surfers and boaters all took to the water at Burleigh Heads on the southern Gold Coast last weekend after drones and underwater cameras spotted dozens of scalloped hammerheads cruising off the headland.

Gold Coast drone photographer Isabella Dobozy said she easily captured footage of the sharks swimming in the crystal clear water, and quickly rushed into the surf to see them up close.

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“It was incredible to see so many of them. I’ve never seen such a big school of sharks,” Ms Dobozy told news.com.au.

“We jumped into the water to swim with them. They were quite small and very relaxed. The whole experience was a delight.”

Ms Dobozy, who is originally from Sydney, said she had seen “almost everything” in her years photographing sea life on the Gold Coast. Having spotted sharks, turtles, stingrays and whales, she said the close encounters “never get old”.

Longboarder Laurel Collofello also saw a dozen hammerheads cruising in the same area.

The group of hammerheads was spotted just off the coast of Burleigh. Picture: Instagram/Isabella Dobozy

They were relaxed in the presence of swimmers and surfers. Picture: Instagram/Isabella Dobozy

The group of hammerheads was not the only impressive shark school spotted at Burleigh Heads on Sunday.

When former footy players Ryan Davis and Matt Shaw took their boat out and dropped a line into the serene waters, they were shocked to see about 200 bronze whalers just under the surface.

The sharks were captured on the pair’s underwater camera as the animals circled their dinghy.

Further south at Forster, NSW last week, a group of spearfishers was seen in a panic after a shark glided directly underneath them.

Though the water was evacuated, it was later identified as a famously gentle grey nurse shark.

While it’s not uncommon to see small shark species in Australia’s eastern waters over the warmer months, marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck of the Humane Society International said it was always exciting to spot a vulnerable shark.

Longboarder Laurel Collofello also captured footage of the group. Picture: Instagram/Laurel Collofello

Ms Dobozy said she had never seen such a large school. Picture: Instagram/Laurel Collofello

Scalloped hammerheads, aptly named for their elegantly scalloped hammer-shaped heads, are critically endangered while bronze whalers are near threatened.

“These species are not considered a potential threat to humans,” Mr Chlebeck told news.com.au.

“We have data going back almost 100 years to prove that.”

While Ms Dobozy said the hammerheads she swam with “didn’t even seem to notice us”, Mr Chlebeck said he would never recommend humans entering the water with feeding sharks.

“You can identify feeding when you see foaming water and birds diving, and obviously the sharks themselves,” he said.

“Any time there are sharks feeding, it’s not a good idea for people to be there whether or not the species is considered dangerous. Sharks can make mistakes or the activity can attract larger species, so it’s better to be safe.”

Still, Mr Chlebeck said high fear of such species was “unnecessary”.

“It’s important to remember that these species have been feeding in these waters for literally thousands of years,” he said.

“We just see it more often now because there are more eyes on the water, more drones and underwater cameras to capture sea life.”

While Mr Chlebeck said he was hesitant to recommend reporting sightings to government shark programs – the Queensland Government still has a policy for 17 shark species to euthanise them when they’re found alive in nets – the CSIRO has invested in ways for citizen scientists to help track population numbers.

The organisation is calling on those who would prefer observing the species from dry land to help record shark egg case findings via the Shark Trust app.

“You can navigate to the Great Eggcase Hunt project and that’s where you can take a photo of your eggcase you can look through identification keys and log your findings,” a CSIRO statement said.

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Originally published as Dozens of sharks swarm Gold Coast beach