While returning from a mile-long swim on Wednesday morning, San Diego visitor Jonathan Genant saw a frightening apparition coming toward him – a large shark.

“By the time it got to me, I could see his mouth was just huge, it was
gigantic,” said Genant, a 29-year-old co-founder of an Internet search
marketing firm called Better Deals LLC.

Genant was alone in the water when the shark bit his left hand, taking his
pinkie and a portion of his ring finger. The palm of the hand was
lacerated.

The attack occurred at about 11:45 a.m. and led authorities to close the
stretch from Polo Beach to Kamaole Beach Park III until noon today.

Authorities believe it was a tiger shark that attacked Genant, although
the swimmer said he first thought it was a great white.

A Maui Fire Department crew flying over the area after the attack spotted
a 12-foot tiger shark in the ocean, and police officers on shore reported
seeing what appeared to be a tiger shark in the water.

Fire Battalion Chief Alan Pascua said the water was a little murky.
Bystanders also told authorities they saw turtles swimming in the water at
the time of the attack and believed it may have been the turtles that
attracted the tiger shark to the area.

Genant said he was about 400 yards offshore in water about 30 feet deep
when the attack occurred. Once he saw the shark coming at him, Genant
extended his arms out toward it and knew immediately that the shark
intended to take a bite.