A shark caused excitement at Shelly Bay yesterday after cruising close to the popular beach in Hamilton Parish.

Swimmers and kite surfers spotted the shark, including its dorsal fin breaking the surface, as it came in close to the shore.

Shark expert Choy Aming is “pretty sure” it is the same hammerhead shark sighted by a family paddle boarding in Flatts Inlet in April.

The shark appears to have “found a comfortable spot in and around the reef” and was unlikely to present a threat, he said.

“We have been seeing it consistently for a few months — it’s found a niche and is just doing its thing.”

Mr Aming rushed to the beach at midday but the shark had moved on.

“People are excited and they said it was cruising around for a good hour,” Mr Aming said.

“It’s still a novelty to see them. People had their children on the beach and just wanted to share it with them.

“It just swam in and out with people cautiously watching it. As soon as it left, people went back in. That’s definitely the reaction you want.”

Hammerheads are more likely to be seen in deeper water, and the sharks are a rarity inside Bermuda’s reef.