Key Points

• Two 18-year-olds from Kwelera, Noah Honey and Tessa Waterson, experienced a close encounter with sharks during a pre-dawn paddle near East London on Monday.
• The pair launched their small boat from Yellow Sands at about 05:30, heading towards the Glengariff coastline, aiming for a relaxed early-morning outing.
• At around 07:30, their craft was approached and circled by sharks; one shark came so close that its tail struck them as it moved away.
• According to Honey, who is an adventurous open-ocean swimmer, he briefly jumped into the water for a swim shortly before the sharks approached.
• The incident has drawn attention from marine experts, with one suggesting that colder water temperatures may be drawing sharks closer to the Eastern Cape coastline.
• No injuries were reported, but the teenagers were left badly shaken and described the encounter as “frightening”.
• The episode has reignited discussion about shark behaviour, seasonal movements and safety for paddlers, swimmers and surfers along the Eastern Cape coast.
• Authorities and marine specialists are expected to use the account to reinforce general ocean safety guidance rather than to incite fear.

Sunrise paddle turns into brush with sharks for teens near East London

A tranquil pre-dawn paddle off the Eastern Cape coastline turned into a terrifying brush with sharks for two 18-year-olds from Kwelera on Monday, when their small boat was circled offshore between Yellow Sands and Glengariff and struck by the tail of one of the animals as it swam away, leaving the pair shaken but unharmed and prompting fresh warnings from marine experts about shark activity in cold coastal waters.

What happened during the teens’ early-morning paddle?

According to the detailed account provided by 18-year-old paddler and open-ocean swimmer Noah Honey, he and Tessa Waterson, also 18 and from Kwelera, launched their small craft before sunrise with the simple aim of enjoying a peaceful start to the day on the water. Honey explained that they set off from Yellow Sands at about 05:30, planning to paddle along the Eastern Cape shoreline towards Glengariff.

Honey recounted that the conditions appeared calm and manageable at first, making it a suitable morning for an extended paddle. The pair progressed steadily along their planned route, staying offshore but within sight of the coastline. As they moved closer to their intended destination, the outing still felt routine — until the first signs of unusual movement in the water emerged.

As reported in the incident account, Honey said the atmosphere changed abruptly at around 07:30, roughly two hours into their excursion, when a shark appeared near their boat. What had begun as a relaxed recreational paddle rapidly turned into a nerve-racking encounter in open water, far from the security of the shoreline.

How did the close encounter with sharks unfold?

Honey said that at about 07:30, as they were nearing the coastal area off Glengariff, they became aware of a shark approaching their small boat. He described seeing the animal come close enough for them to identify it clearly in the water beside them. The situation escalated when the shark was joined, or followed, by another shark moving in the same vicinity, resulting in their craft effectively being circled.

The teenagers watched as the shark or sharks moved around their boat, turning what had been an ordinary paddle into a tense and uncertain confrontation with large marine predators. Honey later described the overall experience as “frightening”, emphasising how vulnerable they felt in a small vessel surrounded by open ocean with sharks in close proximity.

The most alarming moment came when one of the sharks passed so near to their craft that its tail struck them as it swam away. Honey explained that the contact was sudden and forceful enough to startle them, reinforcing the sense that they were within very close range of the animal’s powerful body. Despite the proximity, there were no reports of damage to the boat and neither Honey nor Waterson sustained physical injuries.

Why did Noah Honey enter the water before the sharks appeared?

Adding a further layer of concern to the episode, Honey said he had briefly entered the ocean for a swim shortly before the sharks approached. An experienced and “adventurous open-ocean swimmer”, he decided during the paddle to jump into the water for a short open-water swim segment, using the calm early-morning sea as an opportunity for additional exercise.

Honey explained that this swim took place not long before they became aware of the shark presence. Although there is no direct evidence that his time in the water attracted the sharks or contributed to their subsequent behaviour, the timing underscores how close he may have been to potential danger. If the sharks had approached while he was still in the water, the encounter could have been significantly more hazardous.

After completing his brief swim, Honey climbed back onto the craft and they resumed paddling along their route. It was only after this that the sharks were seen approaching and circling the boat, culminating in the tail strike as one animal moved away.

What did the teenagers say about their emotional response?

The pair’s account portrays a rapid shift from calm to fear as the situation unfolded. Honey, who is accustomed to being in deep water, acknowledged that this experience felt markedly different from his usual open-ocean swims. The presence of multiple sharks so close to a small paddle craft heightened his sense of vulnerability.

Honey described the encounter as a “frightening experience”, highlighting the psychological impact of seeing large predators circling their boat and feeling the physical contact of a shark’s tail. While Waterson’s remarks are not fully detailed in the material available, it is understood that she, too, was badly shaken by the incident and relieved that they were able to get away without harm.

Their shared relief at making it back to shore safely underscores the seriousness with which they regarded what happened. Even with no physical injury, the shock of the episode is likely to stay with them, and may influence how they approach future paddling and swimming activities along the coast.

Are cold water temperatures drawing sharks closer to the Eastern Cape coastline?

A key point emerging from expert commentary is the suggestion that cold water temperatures may be drawing sharks closer to the Eastern Cape coastline. A marine specialist consulted in relation to the broader pattern of recent sightings and encounters along this stretch of coast has indicated that changes in water temperature and conditions can influence shark behaviour and distribution.

As reported by marine experts in similar Eastern Cape cases, cooler water masses, shifting currents and the movement of prey species can all play a role in bringing sharks nearer to shore or into areas more frequently used by paddlers and swimmers. The view among specialists is that such environmental factors could be contributing to more frequent close-range encounters, even if most do not result in attacks.

In this context, the incident involving Honey and Waterson is being considered as part of a broader pattern rather than as an isolated anomaly. Experts stress, however, that shark presence in coastal waters is natural and longstanding, and that temperature-driven movements represent ecological behaviour rather than targeted aggression towards humans.

How are marine experts interpreting the sharks’ behaviour?

Marine biologists generally caution against over-interpreting individual shark encounters, particularly when there is no attack and no evident predatory strike on a craft. In scenarios such as the one described by Honey, many specialists interpret the sharks’ actions as investigative or exploratory behaviour.

Based on accounts of similar events, marine experts say sharks may circle boats to assess unfamiliar objects in their environment. A tail strike, especially as the animal is turning or moving away, can be incidental contact rather than a deliberate attempt to ram or damage the craft. From this perspective, the behaviour observed off Glengariff fits within the range of typical shark curiosity.

At the same time, experts reiterate that the power and size of sharks mean even exploratory contact can be dangerous for people in small vessels. As such, the advice is to treat any close encounter seriously, remain calm but decisive in moving away, and avoid actions that might provoke further interest, such as splashing or dangling limbs in the water.

What safety guidance is being emphasised for paddlers and swimmers?

Following incidents of this nature, authorities and marine safety advocates typically renew calls for caution without stoking panic. For paddlers, surfers and swimmers along the Eastern Cape, recommended safety measures include:

• Avoiding paddling or swimming alone in remote stretches of coastline, particularly at dawn, dusk or in low-visibility conditions.
• Remaining alert to unusual animal activity, including large fish shoals, bird feeding frenzies or sightings of dolphins and sharks.
• Minimising time spent in the water far from shore, especially when on small craft with limited stability.
• Exiting the water calmly and promptly if a shark is sighted nearby, and signalling to others to do the same.

While Honey’s habit of open-ocean swimming reflects his confidence and experience, the timing of his pre-encounter swim underscores why safety advisors consistently recommend caution when entering deeper water, even for seasoned athletes.

How does this incident fit into the broader picture of shark–human interactions?

The frightening brush with sharks experienced by Honey and Waterson near East London adds to a growing public awareness of shark–human interactions along South Africa’s coastline. Marine authorities and conservation organisations have repeatedly pointed out that, statistically, serious shark attacks remain rare when compared with the high volume of people who use the ocean each year.

Incidents such as this one, where sharks approach or circle a craft but do not attack, are often cited by scientists as evidence that sharks do not typically view humans as prey. At the same time, the power and unpredictability of large marine predators, combined with changing environmental patterns, mean that a degree of risk will always exist in open water.

For residents and visitors using the Eastern Cape’s beaches and coastal waters, the latest incident serves as a reminder of the need to balance respect for the ocean and its wildlife with practical safety measures. For Honey and Waterson, their narrow brush with the sharks off Glengariff is likely to remain a vivid illustration of how quickly a tranquil sunrise paddle can turn into a moment of genuine fear in the wild sea.