Experienced Diver Escapes Great White Shark Attack off Cape Jaffa

On March 25, 2026, an experienced diver encountered a great white shark while diving for lobster approximately 12 meters below the surface off Cape Jaffa on South Australia's Limestone Coast. The incident occurred in the Indian Ocean near a reef, where visibility was limited to less than 2 meters. The diver was reaching under a rocky shelf to retrieve a crayfish when a 3.5-meter great white shark suddenly seized his swim fin and dragged him along the ocean floor. During the struggle, the diver's left foot became positioned inside the shark's mouth as he found himself directly beside the animal's head. With assistance from his diving partner, the diver managed to free his foot from the fin and swim back to safety. Remarkably, despite the severity of the encounter, the diver sustained no injuries. The pair had observed a seal near their boat before entering the water, which may have attracted the shark to the area. Poor underwater visibility at the dive site likely contributed to the unexpected nature of the encounter. This marked the diver's third great white shark encounter in his diving career and the closest call to date. Following the incident, he expressed his intention to invest in specialized shark-bite-resistant protective equipment before returning to diving. The incident was documented by Shark Watch South Australia, an organization dedicated to shark awareness and safety education.