Footage of a large eerie shadow in the water of a popular Sydney beach has revealed why swimmers were urged to make for dry land immediately.
Swimmers and surfers at Manly Beach, in Sydney’s northern beaches, were told to flee the water after a massive bait ball was spotted by lifeguards on Sunday.
Drone photos and video captured by photographer Lee Bollom of Batuti Photos showed the sheer size of the cluster of tiny fish.
The bait ball made a hovering surf life saving boat look tiny by comparison.
Lifeguards were forced to close the beach for several hours due to heightened shark danger after hundreds sought a refreshing dip as temperatures soared to 30C.
Surf Life Saving NSW general manager Brent Manieri told Daily Mail surf life saving boats are sometimes able to drive smaller bait balls away from beaches, but this one was ‘far too large’.
‘When there is the presence of bait balls, that will often attract predators – larger fish, birds and dolphins, and that can also attract sharks to the area,’ Mr Manieri said.
‘People swimming through such a bait ball could lead to an interaction with a shark. Obviously it’s a higher risk and the precaution is to remove swimmers from the area.’
Mr Bollom, who captured the bait ball on his drone, was also using the camera to scan the coastline for sharks, but thankfully didn’t spot any.
Bait balls can be dangerous for swimmers and surfers because they attract predators, including sharks, dolphins, and killer whales.
The natural phenomenon occurs when small fish gather in a spherical formulation either voluntarily or to protect themselves from predators.
It comes after another drone photographer captured the moment a shark came dangerously close to unsuspecting swimmers at a beach in Perth.
The very close call was filmed with a drone at Whitfords Beach in northern Perth, Western , a spot known for tiger shark sightings.
The shark swam close to a father and his two children in the waves, before it was spooked by a paddle boarder and headed into deeper water.