A DIVING instructor is going to be delivering a talk about diving safely with sharks - after being bitten by one.

Martin Weddell, who is now known by his friends as 'Shark Bite' was lucky to escape with his life after a close encounter with an Oceanic whitetip shark in the Red Sea, off Daedalus Reef.

He will be giving a free presentation at The Binfield Club on February 7, starting at 7pm, to give people confidence when it comes to exploring the open waters.

The surreal episode is still fresh in his memory. He received a powerful bit to his right arm and watched as blood started to stream from him.

Mr Weddell said: "I don’t blame the shark and I was fortunate. It was more of a love bite, as it did not shake me.

"Boats have been bating and feeding sharks, which changes their behaviour. I have dived with sharks for over a decade, they are incredible creatures.

"Humans can enjoy the beauty of sharks, we just need to modify our interactions and behaviour. They are not crazed killers."

Instinct took over for the diver despite the horror he must have been feeling, as he quickly descended to take photographs of the shark coming towards him.

With the shark approaching, he used a regulator device to fire air into the oncoming animal, forcing it to turn away.

Oceanic whitetips can grow up to three metres and weigh 170kg and they are known for being curious in diver hotspots.

Part of the Red Sea was closed in December 2018 due to the number of shark attacks on divers.

Mr Weddell says more deaths are caused every year by toasters than sharks and believes he was one of the unlucky ones.

The presentation will include video footage of shark interactions and include one of the four attacks that occurred in November.

He added: "I was in the water with divers of ‘Get Hammered’ when the shark attacked another diver, not of our group.

"We need to learn from these incidents. Anyone is welcome to come along to the Binfield Club."