Quebec diving company details how diver was bitten by great white shark

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“This is the first time this has happened in Percé,” said Vézina. “Sharks have been spotted here before, but we’ve never had any encounters.”

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The diving centre released new details about the incident on social media on Friday, saying the incident happened during a routine 10-metre diving session with a student.

According to the latest post, six divers were in the water, divided into two teams. The first team consisted of a divemaster guiding two divers. The divemaster in training, an instructor and a Level One diver made up the second team.

The attack happened at the end of a 33-minute dive, during a three-minute safety stop at five metres below the surface.

Vézina said the instructor and his student were holding the safety stop line, while the diver who was bitten was nearby.

The instructor then heard a noise behind him. When he turned around, he saw a great white shark “in contact” with the diver. The animal swam away within seconds, the company wrote.

“We’re not shark experts, but it certainly happened in a rather sneaky way,” said Vézina.

The three divers on the team immediately left the water and boarded the company boat. Once on board, the injured diver, who was conscious, removed his own equipment and received first aid.

The Coast Guard was then contacted to coordinate the diver’s return.

According to the company, the three other divers in the group were unaware of the incident during their dive.

The divemaster guided them to the rocks of a nearby island, where they remained safe. They were then retrieved safely, the company wrote.

Shortly after the attack, the company announced that all of its diving activities have been suspended for the rest of the season as a precaution.

“Of course, our thoughts are with the victim, our colleague,” said Vézina.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published September 19, 2026.

Erika Morris, The Canadian Press