Incident Report
Wobbegong Bite Incident During Diving at Big Seal Rock, Australia
forster, big seal rock, New South Wales·Australia
A female diver was injured by a wobbegong shark at Big Seal Rock near Forster, New South Wales in May 2011. The approximately 1-meter shark inflicted bite wounds to the victim's thigh.
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Incident Profile
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Description
In May 2011, a diving incident occurred at Big Seal Rock near Forster in New South Wales, Australia, involving a wobbegong shark. The shark, estimated at approximately 1 meter in length, bit a female diver during the encounter. The injury consisted of teeth marks sustained to the victim's thigh. The incident resulted in non-fatal injuries. Wobbegongs are benthic sharks commonly found in Australian coastal waters, typically inhabiting rocky reefs and caves. While generally docile, they may bite defensively when surprised or provoked during close encounters, as in this diving scenario.