Reports of sharks close to shore this summer have surged. Here’s how to best avoid an attack.

A bull shark has swum straight at divers, ‘bumping’ one in the process, at a popular dive site. It comes as four sharks were reported close to shore at Sorrento on Sunday.

A bull shark has swum straight at three divers near a popular Victorian shipwreck dive site, “bumping” one in the process.

It comes as four sharks were sighted near Sorrento pier on Sunday, following multiple reports of sharks close to shore at Victorian beaches on Saturday and the evacuation of swimmers at Portsea.

Divers said the two metre bull shark - usually not seen in Victorian waters - swam straight at them on Saturday, as they dived the J4 submarine site, off Point Lonsdale back beach.

It then turned and swam off.

“When it swam at me it bumped me on the turn before swimming off,” shark sighting service Dorsal, reported one of the divers as saying.

The divers were certain it was a bull shark because of its distinctive nose and tail shape.

Meanwhile, lifesavers and Victorian Fisheries officers attended Sorrento on Sunday, where the species of four large sharks lurking near the ferry pier is unknown.

No swimmers were seen near the sharks.

The four sharks near Sorrento pier. Picture: Supplied

Sharks were also reported at Portsea and Sorrento beaches on the Mornington Peninsula, and St Leonards on the Bellarine Peninsula, on Saturday.

The sightings at the popular swimming beaches comes as shark reports in Victorian waters hit a seven year high.

Experts say there have also been changes in shark behaviour, with bull sharks - not traditionally seen in Victorian waters - recently spotted in Port Phillip Bay.

The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter responded to each of the shark reports on Saturday.

And Life Saving Victoria state agency commander Kane Treloar said at 11am Saturday, lifesavers were informed of suspected sightings at Portsea beach, and also responded.

“Lifesavers evacuated the water and closed the beach,” he said.

“At around 3.30pm, another sighting was confirmed by the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter at St Leonards, an unpatrolled location.

“Victoria Police confirmed a third sighting at 4pm at Sorrento front beach, another unpatrolled location.

“It’s important to remember that sharks are a normal part of the marine environment and incidents like these are rare, so you should be alert but not alarmed.”

He said the best way to protect against a shark attack was by swimming between the red and yellow flags, and avoiding entering the water after dusk or before dawn when sharks were most active.

“If you do spot a shark, leave the water immediately and report it by calling triple-0. If you are at a patrolled beach, notify lifesavers who can monitor the situation, and follow their safety instructions,” he said.

SEVEN-YEAR HIGH FOR SHARK SIGHTINGS

Shark sightings close to Victorian shores have hit a seven-year high, with bull sharks reported in Port Phillip Bay.

Shark reporting organisation, Dorsal, said more sharks had been reported near Victorian beaches than any other time since 2015, when the service began.

Jack Shaw suffered a centimetre-deep gash to his back when he was attacked by a shark at Ocean Grove. Picture: Channel 9

So far this year 15 shark sightings have been reported off Victoria’s coast, five of which have been of bronze whalers, one of a great white, one a reef shark, and the other eight unspecified.

The number of reported shark sightings is up on December’s total of 12, and rapidly approaching January 2021’s total of 17.

“We’re seeing more reports from people on shore,” Dorsal co-founder Sarah Beardmore said, adding that last year, most reports came from people on the water.

There had also been changes in shark behaviour, with bull sharks, not usually seen in Victorian waters, recently spotted in Port Phillip Bay, Ms Beardmore said.

“We’re seeing a change in environment, a change in shark behaviour and patterns,” she said.

But Ms Beardmore said despite the number of sightings already recorded in 2022, Victorians “shouldn’t be afraid”.

Increased number of reports did not necessarily mean there were more sharks.

“With more tools to track sharks, there’s going to be an increase in sightings,” she said.

In December two teenagers were attacked by a shark, believed to be a bronze whaler, at Ocean Grove beach.

Jack Shaw, 15, and his friend Tiarna, also 15, were swimming in neck-deep water when they were attacked.

“I turned around, it got me on the back and then I said, ‘swim!’ and tried as fast as we could to get back into shore,” Jack said.

The teen suffered a centimetre-deep gash and bite marks to his back while his friend suffered a cut to her hand, wound to her leg and required hospitalisation.

The pair made it to shore where they were helped by off-duty lifeguards and a local family.

And this month rock star Brian Mannix was taken to hospital with a bloodied arm after claiming former footy high flyer Warwick Capper saved him from a shark attack.

“It’s either Sam Newman’s boat or the bloody sharks! Thanks to @rickynixon & @warrickcapper for jumping in & helping me. They are just gonna keep me in overnight, cos they reckon I’m sexy?” Mannix wrote on social media, alongside a snap of a huge gash on his arm.

“How many people have to be shark attack victims before we fight back?”

Brian Mannix showing off his injuries, with Melissa Huynh.

Dorsal uses combined government data and reports from the public to produce reports on social media and notifications through its app, to notify people of shark sightings.

Across all of 2021, 68 sightings were reported in Victorian waters.

Ways to avoid shark incidents or attacks:

• Don’t swim at dusk

• Don’t swim close to or behind fishing trawlers

• Avoid swimming in murky waters

• Before entering the water, ensure sure you are with someone or that others are on the beach so you can get medical attention if needed

Originally published as Reports of sharks close to shore this summer have surged. Here’s how to best avoid an attack.