Yes, great white sharks frequently go close to the shore, often much closer than the average swimmer realizes. Recent 2024 and 2025 drone studies in regions like Southern California and South Africa have shown that juvenile great whites spend a significant amount of time in "nursery" areas within 1 km (0.6 miles) of the beach, often in water less than 10 meters deep. These shallow, warmer waters provide safety from larger predators and an abundance of small fish. Adult great whites also venture near the shore, particularly in "hotspots" where seals or sea lions are present, such as the Farallon Islands or the coast of Massachusetts. Despite this proximity, the risk of an encounter remains extremely low; the sharks are generally not interested in humans and are often seen swimming peacefully near surfers without the humans even noticing. Experts advise staying in "buddy groups" and avoiding swimming at dawn or dusk when shark activity is highest.