19 Feb 2011

Fatal shark attack shakes South Australian divers

10:01 am on 19 February 2011

South Australia's abalone industry says it will review safety issues in light of Thursday's deadly shark attack on a diver off Lower Eyre Peninsula.

The victim, 49-year-old Peter Clarkson, was an experienced diver who had encountered sharks before, but on this occasion, the ABC reports, he was not using a protective cage.

Mr Clarkson was diving for abalone when he was dragged under the water by two great white sharks. Police are still searching for his body.

The skipper of the abalone boat witnessed the attack and police say he is suffering from significant shock.

The death has shaken up many within the diving community, including Samara Miller from the Abalone Industry Association of South Australia.

"I think an incident like this will make the industry think about [safety]," she says. "We will do everything in our powers as an association to address any safety issues."

The industry in Australia is worth $180 million and many divers are willing to take risks because of the big money on offer.

Cages normally protects divers as they fossick on the sea floor but, as former diver Don Morrison, says, "A lot of guys have got a little bit blase about the sharks...and they put their cages in the shed."