Western Australian shark attack victim identified as avid teen diver

A 17-year-old shark attack victim fatally mauled in waters off WA's south coast has been identified as local boy Jay Muscat.

Jay was spearfishing with a teenage friend at Cheynes Beach, a small settlement of holiday homes and a caravan park about 65km east of Albany, when he was bitten on the leg around noon yesterday.

Jay and his friends were keen free divers and most of their social media posts were of fishing, PerthNow reports.

He described himself on his Instagram page as "just a young salty dog ... spearfishing and fishing are my thing".

The spearfishers were about 40m offshore when what is believed to be a 4-5m great white attacked Jay and lunged at his friend, Matt Pullella, who fired his speargun at the predator.

Jay was pulled from the water by a holidaymaker staying at the local caravan park but he died on his way to hospital.

WA Police are preparing a report for the coroner.