In August 1984, local divers and fishermen in the Kalokolevu area near Naboro on the Queens Rd in Fiji were terrorized by a massive shark, according to an article in The Fiji Times. Residents such as Isoa Wong, a government employee, and David Foster observed the 18-foot (5.4 metre) shark only about 400 meters from the shore, a relatively unusual occurrence.
Wong had been residing in the region for a decade and had not encountered a shark of such size. The sighting occurred where Wong’s cousin, Steven Fong, presumably lost his life to a shark while spear-fishing in 1983, his clothing was found, but his body was never recovered. Wong cautioned divers to be vigilant, although locals did not frequently dive. Notably, divers from Suva were attracted to the area due to its abundant marine life.
Wong and others abandoned their usual diving routine after the shark was spotted. The massive creature surfaced to feed on August 5, much to their astonishment. The shark was too large to catch and would endanger their boat if they attempted to do so.
Another local, Ben Suka, had a close encounter with the shark a week prior while fishing within Joske Reef. He noticed the shark’s fin and tail appearing above the water 200 meters away before it started pursuing a large turtle. The sight of the shark prompted women gathered collecting seafood nearby to abandon their gear and rush to shore.