South Shore beach goers were given the chance to glimpse a wonder of nature at close quarters over the weekend.

A 9ft hammerhead shark was spotted casually cruising the shoreline off Paget on Saturday.

It is believed the shark was drawn to shallower waters in the aftermath of Hurricane Lee to snack on dead fish and other marine debris that had been churned up by rough seas and heavy swells.

While the majestic fish may have alarmed some swimmers out of the water, marine experts said that human flesh was definitely not on its menu.

Chris Flook, a naturalist with the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, said that it was common for sharks to come inshore after a hurricane to pick up an easy meal without expending energy.

He said: “This shark wasn’t lost or disorientated — it knew exactly what it was doing.

“It’s not really a surprise to see them. We’re an oceanic island and this is what sharks do after a hurricane — come in and pick up whatever’s floating around. It’s a sign of a healthy ocean.

Mr Flook said that, because sharks that inhabit the waters off Bermuda survive on a diet of fish rather than blubber-rich mammals such as seals, humans are naturally avoided and never considered as potential prey.

He said: “If someone was in the water and was confronted by a shark, it would be fair to say that the shark would avoid us. Approaching a human is a gamble for them.”