Kiwi White

AN abalone diver taken by two great white sharks near Port Lincoln had a close encounter with another great white while his skipper narrowly escaped death 10 years ago.Police have resumed the search for Peter Clarkson after he was taken about 6pm last night while surfacing near Perforated Island, about 25km from Coffin Bay.Senior Sergeant Mick Walsh said the skipper of the boat, Howard Rodd, saw two sharks, one larger than the other, pull Mr Clarkson under and he has not been seen since."It is unsure if the victim (Mr Clarkson) had any (shark repellent) device on him but we have been advised he was not in a shark cage."He said nothing police had as yet found "nothing" of Mr Clarkson.Divers often use a protective cage as they submerge to protect themselves from the dangers of the deep.Mr Rodd has told police the sharks were white pointers.SHARKSShould great whites stay protected? Yes - the ocean is their domain No - humans should be UncertainVOTE NOWRELATED COVERAGE

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"We have received reports that there have been some sightings in recent days but they are unconfirmed," he said.Mr Rodd told police he spent "considerable" time searching the area after Mr Clarkson was pulled under but could not locate his co-worker.It is the second time has been involved a tragic accident resulting in a death at sea.In November 2000, Danny Thorpe and Mr Rodd, were at sea near Ceduna fishing for abalone from the ocean floor.Mr Rodd and his deckhand were thrown into a dramatic fight for survival when their boat was overturned by a freak wave.Mr Rodd decided to swim for shore, about 15km away.Mr Thorpe, terrified of sharks, opted to stay with the boat - a decision that cost him his life when he disappeared, believed taken by a shark.In an amazing story of survival, Mr Rodd spent 50 hours in the water, ate razor fish, set fire to a pile of tires to raise the alarm, then staggered down a remote track to be rescued by some passing motorists.In a testimonial promoting the use of SharkShield in August last year - a shark deterrent system - Mr Clarkson told of a close encounter with a great white last August."I was making a slow ascent when I realised that I was no longer alone. Ten metres away, swimming vertically at the same rate as myself, was a great white shark," the 50-year-old wrote on website Swellnet.com.au"It was a scenario I had rehearsed in my mind a thousand times during the 27 years I have been diving, but this was the first shark of this species that I had encountered underwater"To say that I felt safe would be an overstatement - one feels very vulnerable dangling solo off a line in 50m water in the presence of a 4m Great White Shark - but the SharkShield gave me the confidence to complete my decompression and avoid a possible incidence of the bends."It is not yet known if Mr Clarkson was wearing the SharkShield when he was taken late yesterday.A friend said Mr Clarkson was a keen cyclist who was often seen riding around Port Lincoln."He (Mr Clarkson) was a fitness and health fanatic. He was a bit alternative but he was always a decent bloke," he said.Mr Clarkson had been living alternately in Esperance, WA, and Port Lincoln, but was in Coffin Bay after finishing the 2010 abalone diving season.On his facebook page, Mr Clarkson described himself as "independent" but also loyal and honest."I tend to seek out the same sort of individuals and a moderate amount of eccentricity can be rather endearing," he says."I don't suffer fools easily but am a loyal friend, generous, open, honest and compassionate."Apparently a good listener (more comfortable with that than myself talking a lot, I think).Friends of Mr Clarkson have described him as a highly professional diver who was averse to taking risks.They said Mr Clarkson was an exception in the diving world because he would work most of the year.Many of the Port Lincoln divers only dive enough to meet their quota before taking months off or performing other land-borne work.He was described as extremely popular and having the immense respect of his peers because of his thoroughness.Mr Clarkson graduated from Adelaide University with a degree in Zoology and Economic Geology in 1981 and graduated from Unley High School in 1977.THE ATTACKThe skipper of the aluminium boat from which Mr Clarkson was working saw the attack.The captain arrived at the Point Avoid boat ramp in the Coffin Bay National Park about 6.30pm and was treated for shock by paramedics.The Advertiser understands the skipper told ambulance officers: "I saw the beast come up and take him. There's no way he could have survived."One local, who did not want to be named, said the area where the attack happened was a popular abalone diving location and sharks were common in the area.Port Lincoln CIB detectives were investigating the circumstances of the incident.In a statement last night, police Senior Constable Tim Dodds said two sharks had been blamed for the attack."It has been reported that the diver was returning to the surface some time (yesterday) afternoon when two sharks, believed to be great whites, have grabbed him.""The skipper on the boat witnessed the tragedy and has since returned to shore."South Australian Abalone Industry Association president Jonas Woolford said the small diving community "would be devastated by the death of one of their own".Lower Eyre Peninsula District mayor Julie Low said she was shocked at the tragic event."The council's thoughts are with the family and friends in these difficult circumstances," she said.Coffin Bay Hotel worker Bruce said there were a number of people at the hotel shocked from the incident."There has been a shark attack but we can't really say much more because we don't know it the family has been contacted," he said."Everybody would know him, I just can't say anything right now."Everyone is in shock, it is a very tight-knit community, I can't really talk about it tonight."South Australia Aquaculture Council secretary Martin Hernen said he was "devastated to hear the news" and his thoughts went out to the diver's family.Since 1985, 11 people have been killed by sharks in South Australian waters - the most recent being Jarrod Stehbens, 23, in August, 2005, who was killed off Glenelg.In that time, there have been five fatal shark attacks off the West Coast, including the death of scallop diver Paul Buckland at Smoky Bay in 2002.The abalone fishery in South Australia is one of the more valuable commercial fisheries, worth about $50 million annually.About 96 per cent of the catch is exported in cans, live, frozen, dried or boiled. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SHARK ATTACKS.* February 2011, Abalone diver Peter Clarkson is killed by a Great White off Coffin Bay.* November 2009: Dean Brougham is mauled on the arm and legs after a savage attack at Wirrina Cove.* September 2005: Kingscote man Joshua Berris is attacked near Kangaroo Island.* August 2005, Marine biologist Jarrod Stehbens is taken off Glenelg.* December, 2004: Surfer Nick Peterson, 18, killed off West Beach.* April 30, 2002: Scallop diver Paul Buckland, 23, killed at Smoky Bay.* September, 2000: Jevan Wright, 17, taken while surfing at Blacks Point on the West Coast.* September, 2000: New Zealand surfer Cameron Bayes, 25, taken while surfing at Cactus Beach.* May, 1999: Sailboarder Tony Donaghue, 22, taken off Hardwicke Bay, Yorke Peninsula.* June, 1998: Douglas Chesser, 26, killed after being attacked off Neptune Island while diving for abalone.* September 1991: University student Jonathon Lee, 19, killed while diving off Aldinga Beach, south of Adelaide.* March 1989: Surfer Matt Foale, 27, killed at Waitpinga Beach near Victor Harbour.* September 1987: Professional diver Terry Gibson, 47, killed while diving for scallops near Marino Rocks.* March 1985: Shirley Anne Durdin, 33, killed while snorkelling at Peake Bay on Eyre Peninsula.* January 1974: Abalone diver Terrance Manuel, 26, mauled by a white pointer off Highcliff.* February 1975: Wade Shipard, 11, taken near Penong.Mr Clarkson is the 20th person to be killed by a shark in South Australia's history.  56 comments on this storyMORE STORY CONTENTVICIOUS SHARK ATTACKhttp://w.news-static.com/v/vcms-00167/css/images/narrow-sprite-an.png); 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