DUNEDIN, Fla. — A rare sighting off the Dunedin Causeway this summer — a great hammerhead shark!

Video and photos of it got a lot of buzz on social media, so Spectrum News went to one of the Bay area’s shark experts to learn more. 

“They call it the great hammerhead for a reason. It’s actually the largest species of hammerhead,” said biologist Eric Hovland, The Florida Aquarium’s resident shark expert.

Aerial video of the shark was captured by drone pilot John Yanchoris and his nephew, Aaron Batarseh.

“I’ve been flying out here almost four years. It’s a very rare sighting,” Yanchoris said. 

Hovland agrees it’s rare, as great hammerhead numbers have gone down over the years. Hovland said seeing one in these waters is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. He also calls it a special moment for anyone who got a look.

“I think it’s great that people see it not in a movie setting but in the wild,” Hovland said. “It could not be more chill, relaxed or at home in that environment that we share with sharks.”

To check out more of Yanchoris’s drone footage from the Dunedin Causeway, visit his YouTube page.