Photo courtesy Melissa Bernardin Photography, Copyright Huntington State Beach Junior Lifeguards.
By LAYLAN CONNELLY | [email protected] | Orange County Register
This was going to be the summer Aubrey Francisco would learn to surf.
The 7-year-old from San Clemente loves to boogie board and can spend hours splashing and swimming in the water at her favorite beach, San Onofre.
Her mom Lara was all set to put her in surf lessons for the first time – but then the sharks started showing up close to shore.
Plans for surf lessons have been put on hold, at least for now.
Parents are faced with the dilemma of whether to sign their kids up in ocean-based programs – whether it be junior lifeguards, surf lessons or the many beach events happening after school lets out for summer – at a time when more sharks have been lingering close to shore.
Some area junior lifeguard programs and surf schools have seen a decline in registration after a woman was bitten off of Corona del Mar a year ago, and another woman was bitten off San Onofre State Beach on April 29. Adding to the fear are the viral drone, helicopter and GoPro videos and photos on social media the past two months, mostly from San Clemente, Dana Point and Huntington Beach.