Full Breakdown
Great White Shark Bite Suspected off Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
A diver training as a divemaster was bitten by a large shark while completing a safety stop at about five metres depth off the town of Percé on the eastern tip of the Gaspé Peninsula. The incident occurred on a Wednesday morning during a group dive organized by the local operator Plongée Percé. After the bite, the three divers on the line quickly ascended, boarded the boat Yoda, and received first-aid before being taken to a waiting ambulance.
Dive Details and Immediate Response
Plongée Percé had taken six participants to a site with a maximum depth of 10 metres, splitting them into two groups of three. The injured diver was accompanied by a certified instructor and a student who was preparing for their first certification. While the trio performed the standard three-minute safety stop, the instructor heard a noise, turned, and observed the shark. The other group of three, unaware of the event, completed their dive and followed a protocol that sent them to nearby rocks to await pickup. The operator suspended all dives for the remainder of the season pending investigation.
Official Statements & Responses
The dive operator reported that the shark disappeared within seconds after the contact and that the coast guard was alerted shortly before 10:30 a.m. The coast guard confirmed receipt of the report. If the bite is verified as a great-white encounter, the Canadian Shark Attack Registry would record it as the first documented great-white shark bite on a person in Quebec.
Potential Significance
Great-white sharks are rarely observed in the cold waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, making this suspected attack notable for regional marine-life monitoring and public safety. Authorities may review local dive guidelines and shark-sighting protocols in response to the incident.
Verbatim Quote
“Turning around, he saw that a great white shark was nearby and that the third diver appeared to have been in contact with it. The shark then disappeared within a few seconds,” — Plongée Percé — Plongée Percé
