'Shark attack' diver dies in Victoria bay

A MELBOURNE scuba diver has been found dead after reef fishing alone in Port Phillip Bay on Mother's Day.

AN experienced Melbourne scuba diver who once made news by being bitten by a small shark in Port Phillip Bay has died at one of his regular diving spots.

A police helicopter spotted the body of 51-year-old Andrew Houston, of Carnegie, on the sea floor in his diving gear, about 50 metres from shore at Brighton Bay.

Senior Sergeant James Dalton says it's not clear what happened to the father of three, who went for a solo dive on Sunday.

"We don't know how he's died or how he's got into difficulty, so that'll be for the coroner," he said.

His mother, Caroline Wilson, had waited near the shoreline with his two daughters, after hearing of his disappearance on the radio.

"Ever since he was a boy he loved the water. He loved fishing," she earlier told reporters at the scene.

He was known to dive often at the spot.

"I put the pieces together and just thought, 'Oh my God, that's Andrew.'"

She then saw a text message from his partner, asking her to call.

"I didn't know what to say."

Mr Houston was bitten by a small Port Jackson shark two years ago while diving in nearby Elwood.

"This thing just latched on to my leg," he told Network Ten at the time.

"It felt like the real thing, like a big one, you know?"

But the little shark had only ripped his wetsuit, leaving him uninjured.

Mr Houston's death comes three years after 39-year-old Robert Zakarija died while snorkelling alone at Half Moon Bay, about 10km farther south.

Police say the death highlights the need to always have a diving buddy.

"If you get in trouble, it's good to have somebody there who can assist," Snr Sgt Dalton said.

"It's something that you're taught when you do your dive course, and it's something that's recommended."

Police believe Mr Houston went fishing alone at a reef about 100 metres offshore from the Brighton Baths about 1.30pm on Sunday.

Police divers had been snorkelling the shallow reef all Monday morning in a bid to find Mr Houston, but his body was found around 1pm on Monday.

Mr Houston's car was also located in the beach car park, across from where he died.