On October 19, 2005 Megan Halavais, accompanied by her boyfriend John Henry and 5 other companions, was surfing at Salmon Creek Beach and Mussel Point near Bodega Bay. It was 10:35 AM and they had been in the water for about one hour. Megan was 30 – 40 feet south of the other surfers and about 100 yards from the beach. There was intermittent sunshine with a mild 5 MPH wind from the SE. The sea was calm with 5 – 6 foot ground swells and 8 – 10 feet deep with 10 feet of visibility. The ocean floor was sandy with several rocky reefs in the area. No pinnipeds were observed in the water.

Halavais recalled; "I was facing out to sea and slowly paddling. My friends were north of my location. Suddenly I was struck on my right thigh and driven up out of the water. I looked back over my right shoulder and saw the back and dorsal fin of a large White Shark. It released its grip and I fell off the board onto the back of the shark. I used both hands to push off its back as it submerged. It still had hold of my board as the shark rolled on its side and went under the water. I was at the surface and suddenly found myself being pulled below the water. The shark had my leg leash in its mouth and held me under for several seconds before its teeth cut my leash. I popped to the surface and my boyfriend, John Henry, was right next to me. I crawled up onto his board and he paddled over to my board. All of my friends were shouting while I was struggling with the shark. We all then paddle to the beach. >From start to finish the attack lasted maybe 20 seconds. When we reached the beach they called 911 and the Sheriff's Helicopter Rescue Unit – Henry One, landed on the beach and flew me to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital."

The bite to her board was more than 18 inches in diameter as measured by Lt. Roger Rude of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department. This is the fifth authenticated White Shark attack from this 'recurring location.' Please report any shark sighting, encounter or attack to the Shark Research Committee.