CBS/AP/ July 3, 2012, 5:32 AM

Great white shark sighting closes popular La Jolla Shores beach

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(CBS/AP) SAN DIEGO - A great white shark has been spotted about 50 feet off the San Diego coastline and forced the closure of a popular swimming beach.

San Diego Lifeguard Lt. Greg Buchanan told The San Diego Union Tribune that a 14-foot shark was seen by a lifeguard who was in the water at 3:15 p.m. Monday at La Jolla Shores beach.

Authorities closed the beach to swimmers from the Marine Room to Scripps Pier, and issued an advisory for areas further north and south.

Boats and helicopters searched the water for the shark.

The area is a popular launching point for scuba divers and kayakers.

Great white sightings last summer prompted numerous closures. Sightings are more common during August, September and October.

According to CBS 2 in Los Angeles, officials will decide whether to reopen the beach Tuesday.

California's beaches are not the only ones in the U.S. to have visiting great whites this summer. A 16-foot long great white was spotted about 100 yards off Cape Cod (video), just off Chatham Harbor, on Monday.