A diver believed to have been taken by a shark in north Queensland died doing "something he loved", his family says.
An air and sea search for Steve "Fozzy" Foster, 54, was suspended three days after he went missing from the Lady Bowen shipwreck, near Mission Beach on Tuesday.
An official cause of death has not been released but the Mission Beach businessman's family says he was "without doubt" taken by a shark.
"Obviously we are still coming to terms with this information," they said in a statement released on Facebook.
"The community spirit and support is comforting for us all."
Local skippers, pilots and divers volunteered their time to help authorities search for the man, who owns a local water taxi company and was a prominent local tourism figure.
Hundreds of condolence messages have been posted to his business page on Facebook.
"One of life's truly nice guys, free to roam all the great oceans of this beautiful blue planet," one woman posted.
Police say Mr Foster's equipment and clothing will undergo forensic testing.
A report is being prepared for the coroner.
Share
