Following the shark attack off Percé, divers and tourism representatives in Québec are discussing how to deal with sharks in future. The next summer season remains undecided for Plongée Percé. As CIMT-CHAU reported on 21 September, the company plans to hold discussions and consult experts over the coming months.
Different reactions within the diving community
Diver and photographer Mario Longpré from Carleton-sur-Mer wants to assess which changing conditions should be taken into account on future trips. He says he will be more vigilant.
Jean-Olivier Lapointe, by contrast, describes his previous encounters with sharks as positive. He sees himself as a guest in their habitat when diving and intends to keep entering the water. The incident makes the risk more tangible to the public, he says, but does not change his personal decision.
Coexistence while questions remain open
Sandra Gauthier, director of Exploramer, believes water sports activities and their tourism marketing need to adapt. For her, the focus is on learning to live with the presence of sharks.
The report does not announce specific new diving rules or a decision on resuming operations. For now, the discussions concern preparations for the next season. They confirm neither a reopening nor a permanent closure of the dive centre.