A surfer in Hawaii captured video of a close encounter with a hammerhead shark while riding waves near Honolulu earlier this year, documenting the moment the marine predator passed just beneath him, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Matt Reynolds, 56, was filming himself while foil surfing off the coast of Honolulu in January when he noticed a dark shape moving in the water below.
The water conditions were clear enough for him to quickly recognize what he was seeing.
Wild video catches hammerhead shark lurking beneath surfer in Hawaii. https://t.co/iYyrthR1vY [2]
— CJ4America2 (@GrammyC4Zone2) April 2, 2026 [3]
“As I was finishing up this particular wave, I was startled by a large shadow below me, and I immediately knew it was a hammerhead shark as the water was so clear,” Reynolds, who is from O‘ahu, told creatorzine.com.
The video, which later circulated widely online, shows Reynolds riding a wave before the camera captures the shadow of the shark beneath him.
The clip concludes with a close-up of Reynolds’ reaction after he passed over the animal, which appeared to be only a few feet from his board.
Reynolds said he focused on maintaining control as he realized what was beneath him.
“I tried my hardest to not panic so I wouldn’t fall,” he said.
“It was a scary moment as I haven’t seen one this big,” Reynolds added.
The encounter took place during a morning session when Reynolds and others were surfing in waves reported to be around 10 feet high. Despite the favorable conditions for surfing, the group decided to end their session after spotting the shark.
Reynolds said the sighting stood out compared to his past experiences in the water.
“I have seen large marine life many times, whales, turtles, sharks… but this is my first time capturing a shark with such clarity,” he said.
A surfer is counting his blessings after frightening footage revealed a hammerhead shark lurking under the surface as he caught a wave in Hawaii. https://t.co/XKDRMB6Dka [4] pic.twitter.com/3WhKpHCCXC [5]
— New York Post (@nypost) April 2, 2026 [6]
Hammerhead sharks are known for their distinct head shape, which allows for improved sensory perception while hunting.
While many species are smaller in size, the Great Hammerhead is among the largest and can grow up to 20 feet in length, according to National Geographic.
Data from the International Shark Attack File indicates that hammerhead sharks rarely target humans. The database lists 18 unprovoked, nonfatal attacks involving hammerhead species.
By comparison, Great White sharks have been responsible for 292 attacks, including 59 fatalities.
Hammerhead sharks are some of the most unusual-looking predators in the ocean, famous for their wide, hammer-shaped heads called a “cephalofoil”.pic.twitter.com/SeO0oGz7Mz [7]
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) March 31, 2026 [8]
No injuries were reported in Reynolds’ encounter.