A spear fisher diving off Maroubra’s coastline has had an unexpected and tense encounter with a great white shark, with the dramatic moment caught entirely on his GoPro.
Shark Moves In as Fisher Stays Calm
The close encounter happened off Maroubra, a beachside suburb in Sydney’s east, as spear fisher Dean was diving for salmon. A 2.5-metre great white shark circled him for over three minutes, captured on his GoPro. Dean said he remained calm and still, keeping the shark in view during what he called a “staring contest.”
![](https://maroubranews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/850x350-Maroubra-1.png")
The shark edged closer with each pass but eventually swam away without incident. Authorities later confirmed the shark had been tagged and detected near Maroubra just 10 minutes earlier, after migrating from Stanwell Park.
![](https://maroubranews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/850x350-Maroubra-2.png")
Speargun Used as Protective Barrier
As the shark came within arm’s reach, Dean used his speargun as a barrier, slowly raising it between himself and the animal. At one point, he nudged the shark’s nose to maintain distance. The shark responded by swimming broadside and eventually drifting away, but not before making another pass.
Dean said the most stressful part was when he briefly lost sight of the shark, not knowing where it had gone. He remained underwater until he felt it was safe to return to the surface. His GoPro recorded the entire sequence.
Wildlife Experts Track Shark Behaviour
Officials confirmed that the same shark had triggered tracking beacons placed along the coast. The NSW government’s shark monitoring system, which uses acoustic tags to study shark movements, logged the great white off Maroubra just before Dean’s dive began.
Marine experts said the shark’s behaviour appeared to be investigative rather than aggressive. These kinds of close encounters are uncommon but not unheard of in Sydney waters, particularly during salmon runs when sharks follow food sources closer to shore.
A Story That’s Staying With the Community
Dean returned to shore safely, shaken but unharmed, and plans to share the footage with researchers studying shark movements. Despite the encounter, he kept the salmon he’d caught and joked it would be lunch.
Locals who viewed the footage online responded with both admiration and concern. Many praised Dean’s calm response, while others were uneasy about diving in shark-prone waters. The incident serves as a reminder to the Maroubra community of the marine life just beyond the shoreline.
Published 14-July-2025
