Incident Report
Whitetip Reef Shark Incident During Diving at Osprey Reef, Queensland
osprey reef, north horn, Queensland·Australia
A female diver sustained abrasions to the torso and pelvic region during a diving incident at Osprey Reef in North Horn, Queensland in January 1987. A whitetip reef shark was involved in the non-fatal encounter.
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Incident Profile
Individual
Location
Description
In January 1987, a diving incident occurred at Osprey Reef located off North Horn in Queensland, Australia. The diver, a female, sustained abrasions to the torso and pelvic region during an encounter with a whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus). The incident resulted in non-fatal injuries. Osprey Reef is situated in open ocean waters near the Great Barrier Reef and is known as a popular diving destination. Whitetip reef sharks are relatively small, bottom-dwelling sharks commonly found in tropical coral reef environments throughout the Indo-Pacific region. While generally considered shy and reclusive, they may investigate divers in their habitat. This incident represents one of the rare documented interactions between divers and whitetip reef sharks in Australian waters.