Got this email forwarded to me this morning. I don't know the guys involved but thought it was an interesting read...........


yesterday was another beautiful Perth day. until every divers worst nightmare occurred. after hanging out for dive for a week the weather was good and had a dive buddy that was keen to dive in the forties. headed out of rocko to a spot 21km west of p/peron in 41m. when we got there the water looked clean and little swell. geared up straight away and went straight in. Paul and I been at the bottom for 15min we had to come up for deco. we started our accent up the anchor rope I was in front Paul was behind. when I got to 9m I stopped holding the anchor rope.( this is the worst feeling in the world sitting there for 10min at 10m in 40m of water, you mind plays tricks on you your always thinking what if, trying to convince yourself it will never happen. ) after stopping I looked over my right shoulder to look if Paul was with me but he wasn't there, then turning to my left to see if he was on that side, but he wasn't, instead there was 4 to 6m g/w eyeballing less than a foot my face. I didn't want to believe what was next to me was real, but it was. to describe how I felt at this time was fear. if I wanted to give him a pat on the head I could of, he was that close) the g/w swam 3m away towards the boat then turned around started heading back towards me. at this time I was thinking this is it I'm dead) as he swam towards me i was thinking of bolting for the boat. but I decided just to play dead and stay still. he swam past me again this time a bit further away maybe a 1m, he started to swim down towards the bottom got about 8m away from me still heading down. at this point I decided I forgo my deco and get the **** out of here) it was the longest 10m swim I ever done. I swam as fast as I could heading for the tunnel of the cat hoping it might offer some protection. getting to the back of the boat I was just hoping my dad was there to help me in.( he normally has a rod in and you have to yell for him to take your gear of you) I looked up to see him leaning over the back with his arm out screaming its behind you, its behind you get in the ****ing boat. I was absolutely ****ting myself at this point, he was trying to pull me but it didn't feel like I was getting anywhere, but some how I lying in the back of boat on my back gasping for air. that was an unusual feeling I felt relieved but scared. I guess it was shock. it seems likes ages I was lying on the floor but was probably only seconds then thinking of Paul was still out there. getting my gear of as quick as I could to help Paul, he still hadn't come up, I was taking my wetty off when I heard a scream of help( it was the scariest and most desperate scream I have ever heard) I looked out and Paul was 20m from the boat and the shark was next to him. my wetty was round my ankles and wouldn't come off so I just cut it off. screaming at my dad to start the engines I raced up the front to cut the anchor. as I was cutting the rope I heard my dad scream it got him, its got him. I looked over to Paul and the shark was in a frenzy and Paul was screaming for his life. at this im yelling at dad drive, we got to Paul and I don't know how I pulled him over the side of the boat. he was lying on his back as I did seconds earlier gasping for air with a tear in his eye. Paul told us afterwards the g/w meet him at his deco and pushed him to the surface, when we first heard the screams then it kept coming in and having a go at him. every time it came at him he would hit it with his spear gun. at one point he had the gun in its mouth.
I feel for dad, only two minutes after we had descended this shark came around the boat. for 20min he was in panic mode, normally he would start the motors if there was a problem and we would come up. but this time there was a problem he didn't want us to come. I think he has suffered more than us, we only had a few seconds to react he had 20minutes of this monster swimming around the boat knowing you son and friend was down there. how would you feel what could you do.
at the end of the day where alive, no benz, just a sleepless night and a happy family.
will post some pics later got to go and clean some **** out the boat.
by the way the 40th is on like donkey Kong now.

you described it so well, i feel like it happened to me after reading it...

glad everyone's ok...

Great read, good all is ok

you must have a pretty solid sphincter

I saw you guys on the news the other night. ****ing hell. That's a hell of a story to be able to tell in 30 years. Sounds like you did everything right and were very lucky. On the bright side, you got to experiance something that only a handful of people in the world have and lived.

that sh!t is ****ing INTENSE. i think the whole of oz is glad your ok, i seen the news aswell, at least u know ure oldboys not gonna die of a heart problem if he lived thru that.

I`m sorry but I really need to ask why you felt you needed to share this story (that didn`t even happen to you, or anyone you know) here on a kitebsurfing forum? People go out diving in the Idian ocean, come across a shark and then think they need to tell it to the world. Yes they went diving and meeting a white pointer down there must scare the crap out of you. But what do they think lives down there, cute little puppies? Those of us that get in the water just about everyday know what`s in there and we take our chances. And that`s it. What, are you just trying to freak us out? These guys were on the news, they said they had lost a relative or friend in 2004 to a shark. So they already have first hand experience what sharks get up to. That didn`t stop them jumping back in. So now they come across a white pointer they get all emotional and have to tell the world about this "strange" encounter. If I come across a snake in the outback tomorrow must I go running to the media telling them that this crazy snake had the ordasity to be in it`s natural enviroment while I`m there? And will you put my story on a fishing forum?

phrase said...

I`m sorry but I really need to ask why you felt you needed to share this story (that didn`t even happen to you, or anyone you know) here on a kitebsurfing forum? People go out diving in the Idian ocean, come across a shark and then think they need to tell it to the world. Yes they went diving and meeting a white pointer down there must scare the crap out of you. But what do they think lives down there, cute little puppies? Those of us that get in the water just about everyday know what`s in there and we take our chances. And that`s it. What, are you just trying to freak us out? These guys were on the news, they said they had lost a relative or friend in 2004 to a shark. So they already have first hand experience what sharks get up to. That didn`t stop them jumping back in. So now they come across a white pointer they get all emotional and have to tell the world about this "strange" encounter. If I come across a snake in the outback tomorrow must I go running to the media telling them that this crazy snake had the ordasity to be in it`s natural enviroment while I`m there? And will you put my story on a fishing forum?

As it was said before... lighten up dude. It was really interesting reading, as opposite to some of the negative crap that get's posted on this forum.

Great read of a first hand account-what a tale for the grand kids.

wow! scary stuf.

Sorry for hurting your feelings markass. I opologise for not finding it a great read and thinking that this being a forum I could have my say, without bad languaging anyone.
At least ten approvals to your post and only one non approval. Not bad for a "forum" I think?

Phrase, not sure the guy who wrote the email said anything about the sharks "ordasity" - he was simply reliving a highly adrenalin charged event, not questioning the sharks right to be there. It may not be kiteboarding, but anything relating to the ocean is relevant/interesting to us.

You also pointed out that markass didn't even know the guy - not sure how thats relevant? People post things all the time about news events involving people they don't know. Doesn't mean its not a good story.

If you had an OT story about being stalked and harassed by a massive snake in the desert that was as good as markasses story, I reckon most people would say it was an interesting read.