Experienced Diver Fatally Attacked by Great White off Western Australia

This incident is notable for the convergence of several factors: it occurred just six days and 115 km from another fatal great white attack (Ben Gerring), bystander fishermen performed an act of heroism by deliberately positioning their vessel between the shark and both victims, and the case is exceptionally well-documented with precise environmental, tidal, and meteorological data by GSAF investigator Bob Myatt.

On June 5, 2016, a fatal shark attack occurred in the Indian Ocean off Mindarie, a coastal suburb north of Perth, Western Australia. The victim was a 60-year-old woman who held Advanced Open Water diving certification and was Director of Postgraduate Studies at Edith Cowan University's School of Nursing and Midwifery. Regarded as an exceptional diver, she regularly dived the reef four times weekly during summer months and had visited this particular site at least a dozen times previously. At approximately 11:30 AM, the victim and a 43-year-old male diving companion were conducting a crayfish diving operation two kilometers offshore between One- and Three-Mile Reefs. Sea conditions were relatively calm, with water temperatures of 68°F and partly cloudy skies overhead. The diving pair was operating in the area where fishing vessels were also present. The attack occurred with little warning. The male diver felt something pass by him underwater and, although he did not observe the shark directly, ascended to the surface. Upon surfacing, he witnessed a commotion in the water and realized his companion had been attacked. Nearby fishermen operating a 5.3-meter vessel witnessed the incident and observed that the attacking shark appeared larger than their own boat. The fishermen positioned themselves defensively and positioned their vessel between the shark and the victim, enabling the male diver to return to his small private boat. He retrieved the victim and immediately alerted emergency services at 11:37 AM. Authorities arrived at the boat ramp off Alexandria Drive to find the victim deceased from severe injuries sustained during the attack. The shark was subsequently identified as a great white shark exceeding 3 meters in length, with estimates placing it at approximately 4.5 meters. Video footage captured approximately 90 minutes after the attack showed a large shark 400 meters offshore, which authorities suspected may have been the same individual responsible for the fatal attack. Following the incident, authorities issued an order to capture the shark and deployed drum lines in the area. Beaches were closed from Claytons Beach to Quinns Beach as a precautionary measure.