Kayakers encounter shark in Half Moon Bay

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. - Two kayakers had a close encounter with a shark in Half Moon Bay.

Video posted on social media captured the moment as the pair were paddling out from Pillar Point Harbor on Tuesday.

One of the kayakers, Ian Walters, told KTVU the shark was following them for about five minutes, before swimming away.

He said the shark was bigger than their kayaks, which are about 13 feet long.

He also described the shark as peaceful and curious. 

"As a teacher, I feel passionately about disrupting harmful white shark stereotypes," Walters said. "This shark was bigger than our kayaks, and yet was totally peaceful and curious." 

Walters noted that he realizes that "obviously," this encounter could have gone south.

"But it felt special more than anything else," he said, "to be able to spend time near an apex predator that behaved so placidly."