A rare sighting of a basking shark occurred off the coast of Marbella, Spain, on May 19, 2025, amazing onlookers. Aqua Time Marbella, a water sports club, captured the colossal shark on video and shared it on Instagram. The team expressed their astonishment, noting that in their 35 years of operation, they had never witnessed such a close encounter.
The video shows the shark's fin above water, and as it approaches, its immense size becomes apparent. Basking sharks can grow up to 12 meters long. Despite their intimidating size, they are harmless to humans. They are the second-largest shark species, feeding solely on plankton and small fish.
Basking sharks inhabit European waters, but close-up sightings remain uncommon. This recent sighting in Marbella has generated excitement, with many locals and tourists expressing awe at the creature's size and gentle nature.