SoCal heat: Beachgoers flock to OC beaches while officials monitor increased marine activity

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Orange County remained under some kind of heat advisory Tuesday afternoon as high temperatures drew large crowds to the beaches.

Meantime, marine safety officials reported an unusually busy summer marked by increased rescues, injuries and marine life activity.

Dangerous heat across Orange County

In Laguna Beach, beachgoers packed the shoreline despite temperatures remaining in the 80s on the sand. Inland areas of Orange County were under an extreme heat warning.

Among those braving the heat were players from Laguna Beach High School and Santa Margarita competing in a beach volleyball match. A coach said the sand was so hot that players needed as much water as possible to help cool their feet during competition.

Hot temps draw crowds and active marine life

The Marine Safety Division in Laguna Beach said activity this summer has been busier than normal across several areas, including rescues, injuries and marine life encounters. Officials said the heat has helped draw large crowds to the coast.

Marine life sightings have also increased. On Saturday, a hammerhead shark was spotted off the coast of Laguna Beach.

The shark was captured on video by a wildlife photographer aboard a Newport Coastal Adventure boat. He said the last time he saw a hammerhead shark in Southern California was during the El Niño event in 2015.

"We are expecting to see more stuff because this is kind of just the start of it," said Mark Girardeau. "We're getting into this El Niño cycle. I think the water is going to keep getting warm for the next couple of months. So I think it's possible to see whale sharks and maybe more hammerheads or just other things. You know, all the fishermen are catching ... yellowtail, bluefin tuna, like all kinds of stuff. So it just it just seems like everything's moving up from Mexico.”

The shark sighting follows other recent reports of increased stingray activity and sightings in Orange County.

Beachgoers may soon face additional hazards. A beach hazard statement was scheduled to take effect, bringing waves of 4 to 6 feet with sets reaching up to 7 feet, along with strong rip currents.