Incident Report
Snorkeler Injured by Hammerhead Shark at Opal Reef, Port Douglas
port douglas, opal reef, Queensland·Australia
A 44-year-old male snorkeler was injured by a 3-meter hammerhead shark at Opal Reef near Port Douglas, Queensland in May 1990. The shark inflicted bite wounds to the victim's arm and hand.
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Incident Profile
Individual
Location
Description
In May 1990, a snorkeling incident occurred at Opal Reef near Port Douglas in Queensland, Australia. A 44-year-old male snorkeler encountered a hammerhead shark approximately 3 meters in length in the pelagic ocean environment. The shark bit the victim, causing non-fatal injuries characterized by teeth marks on the arm and hand. The snorkeler survived the incident. This encounter represents one of the documented interactions between humans and hammerhead sharks in Australian waters, a species that typically inhabits reef and pelagic zones where recreational snorkeling activities occur.