A pair of divers narrowly escaped a close encounter with a massive great white shark off the coast of Western Australia, after a patrol helicopter alerted them to the danger. The 4.5-metre shark was spotted circling about 10 metres off Cape Naturaliste, roughly three hours south of Perth.
Footage shared by Surf Life Saving Western Australia on Instagram shows the shark swimming near the divers, who were unaware of its presence. The helicopter crew sounded a siren, prompting the divers to exit the water onto a jet ski and head to safety.
The video has garnered nearly 10,000 likes in less than 12 hours, with commenters praising the helicopter pilot and spotter. One user wrote, 'That’s a big one … good spotting and protecting the divers,' while another added, 'Might not be so lucky next time if the chopper isn’t around.'
The sighting comes as Surf Life Saving reports an increase in shark sightings on the east coast, particularly around Sydney. Drone operators have spotted 125 sharks since the start of the month, averaging more than 10 per day, leading to heightened concern among beachgoers.
Despite the uptick in sightings, the state's head of shark mitigation maintains that the shark population is under control. The incident off Cape Naturaliste serves as a reminder of the risks faced by ocean users in Australian waters.
