Full Breakdown
Diver Bitten by Great White Shark off Percé, Quebec
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On the morning of September 16, 2026, a diver aboard the vessel YODA—a private boat that also serves the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary—was bitten by a great white shark in waters near the town of Percé on the Gaspé Peninsula. Media relations officer Craig Macartney said the Maritime Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (Québec) received the alert at approximately 10:27 EDT. Emergency responders provided first aid on the vessel before the diver was air-lifted to a hospital for further assessment. Both the operator Plongée Percé and the Canadian Coast Guard later confirmed that the diver’s life was not in danger. The company announced that all diving activities would be suspended for the remainder of the season.
Background: Rising Great-White Sightings
Great white shark sightings have become more frequent over the summer in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Gaspé Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands. Ocearch, a global non-profit that tags sharks for scientific study, is currently tracking four individuals—Webster, Ernst, Bella and Nori. He added that Ocearch has tagged roughly 115 sharks across the Atlantic, from Florida to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Official Statements & Responses
Plongée Percé posted that “emergency response measures were initiated immediately” and that the diver received on-site first aid before hospital transport. The company emphasized privacy concerns and pledged to update the public if new information emerges. The Canadian Coast Guard confirmed the incident and the swift deployment of ambulance services to the vessel. In addition, the operator’s decision to halt diving for the season was presented as a precautionary measure for both participants and marine wildlife.
Expert Insight on Shark Ecology
Their presence is viewed as beneficial for local fisheries by regulating seal numbers and supporting balanced fish stocks.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Emergency response measures were initiated immediately,” — Plongée Percé
- “They're very important to the health and stability of our oceans and marine ecosystems because these sharks help keep in check some populations of invasive species, and they also control competing fish species lower down on the food chain,” — Caroline Miri, a marine biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada