A diver who sustained injuries from a shark attack earlier this week in Quebec is currently hospitalized but reported to be in stable condition, according to Jean-François Vézina, vice-chair of the board of directors at Plongée Percé, the local diving center.
Vézina stated, “I just spoke with him about half an hour ago.” While he refrained from providing specific details about the diver’s injuries, he confirmed they involved “multiple lacerations.” The diver was transported to the hospital on Wednesday following the attack by a great white shark off the coast of Percé, situated on the eastern tip of the Gaspé Peninsula.
The injured individual was a divemaster in training, who was bitten on the upper body during the incident. Vézina expressed concern, stating, “This is the first time this has happened in Percé. Sharks have been spotted here before, but we’ve never had any encounters.”
On September 19, 2026, the diving center shared new insights into the attack on their social media platform, detailing that the incident occurred during a standard 10-meter diving session with a student. At the time of the attack, six divers were present, divided into two teams. The first team consisted of a divemaster guiding two divers, while the second comprised a divemaster in training, an instructor, and a Level One diver.
The attack transpired at the conclusion of a 33-minute dive during a three-minute safety stop at five meters underwater. According to Vézina, while the instructor and his student held onto the safety stop line, the bitten diver was located nearby. The instructor heard a noise behind him, and upon turning, he witnessed a great white shark “in contact” with the diver. The shark then swam away within moments, as reported by the diving company.
Immediately following the incident, the three divers on the affected team exited the water and boarded the company boat. The injured diver, conscious throughout the ordeal, removed his dive equipment and received immediate first aid on the vessel. The Coast Guard was contacted shortly afterward to facilitate the diver's return to medical care.
The remaining three divers in the group were reportedly unaware of the attack during their dive. The divemaster safely guided them to the rocks of a nearby island, where they remained secure until being retrieved without incident.
In light of the attack, Plongée Percé announced the suspension of all diving activities for the remainder of the season as a precautionary measure. Vézina emphasized the organization's concern for their injured colleague, stating, “Of course, our thoughts are with the victim, our colleague.”
