Shark fin in Carrum Beach’s innocent family photo sends Melbourne into a frenzy

A hidden detail in the background of an ordinary family photo on the beach has divided a Melbourne community.

The photo appears to show a shark fin spotted just meters away from swimmers in shallow waters at Carrum Beach in south-east Melbourne this week.

The image (pictured) was posted to the Chelsea Beach SES unit in the area and showed a man pointing at the camera with the child, with the small flipper-like image sticking out of the water behind them

On Sunday, the Chelsea SES said in a Facebook post that there had been an unconfirmed shark sighting off Chelsea Beach, fueling speculation that a local shark named “Bruce” had returned.

Then on Monday, following the sighting, the SES Chelsea Unit received a message from a family who had been in Carrum Beach on Sunday who, after reviewing photos taken that day, noticed the shark fin shape in the background.

“Now I have to admit when I saw the pictures I wasn’t sure what they were so I contacted a number of places to ask their opinion and everyone agrees that although they aren’t can confirm it’s a shark, you can’t say it isn’t,” Chelsea SES wrote on its Facebook page on Monday.

“The family are very sincere and in fairness they are the first to admit that they are not sure what they have snapped but they would certainly like to know.”

Almost 100 locals commented on the photo.

The fin featured in a holiday snap taken at Carrum Beach in south-east Melbourne as the family took their toddler to the beach for the first time this week (pictured, beachgoers at Carrum Beach).

“Looks like a small shark, maybe that’s why no one was attacked,” said another.

“I agree it can’t be ruled out – but it’s highly unlikely that a shark cruising in the shallows would go unnoticed and not noticed by those in the photograph,” said one experienced fisherman.

“Saw a lot of sharks (saw a few fishing yesterday – but rubber sharks) as well as dolphins, whales, seals and stingrays, as an avid diver and fish that’s close to the beach every day.

“If that was a shark, everyone in the photo would be looking at it.”

“You’d think someone would see that,” agreed one commenter, while another said the dog was acting too still for a shark to be that close.

‘The doggo in the water would surely have been there?’

It comes after an unconfirmed sighting of a well-known shark named Bruce was made on the same day in Chelsea and Bonbeach, two miles away, just off the beach

“I’m betting that’s the back of a dog’s head,” wrote another of the shark fin image, while another claimed it was a stingray.

“There’s a dog in the water nearby, whatever it is, so if the dog wasn’t taken then it’s not a shark. Dogs are the first thing that is taken. I think maybe [it’s] rather a [sting]Rays flutter,’ he said.

SES Chelsea was contacted by Daily Mail Australia.