Mysterious 'great white shark' spotted near the Magaluf coast

A mysterious fish has alarmed holiday makers in Magaluf this week, with many believing that a great white shark is prowling the warm waters nearby.

The shadowy creature was captured on camera by a diving school worker in shallow water off just off the coast of Palmanova.

Local fishermen claim the beastie is a young great white due to the shape of its body, but town officials argue it could just as easily be a large game fish like a tuna.

Experts also point out that there are over 40 different species of shark found in the Mediterranean and that although great whites are not completely unusual for these waters, they rarely enter the coastal shallows.

Wary swimmers may also take some comfort in this: There hasn’t been a reported fatal great white shark attack in the Med since 1989 – and that was a spear-fisherman off the coast of Italy.