Steven Mattaboni, pictured with his wife Shirene and two young daughters, was killed in the shark attack. (Supplied: Shirene Mattaboni )

The wife of a 38-year-old Perth man who died in a shark attack off the coast of Rottnest Island has described him as a devoted father and avid spearfisherman.

Steven Mattaboni was spearfishing with three friends about 1 kilometre offshore at Horseshoe Reef on Saturday morning when he was bitten on the lower leg.

Mr Mattaboni’s wife, Shirene, said her family’s “hearts are irrevocably broken” by his death.

“Steven was a devoted father to our two beautiful daughters — one who turns three next month and our four-month-old baby,” she said in a statement.

“An avid fisherman and spearfisherman, who lived and breathed the ocean, he was always in tune with the sea.

“He was fiercely loyal, endlessly generous, and the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back.

“The world has lost a truly one-of-a-kind gentleman, and our daughters have lost an incredible father far too soon.

“We extend our deepest, most sincere gratitude to the emergency services and first responders who worked so tirelessly to save him.”

Police said Mr Mattaboni suffered “horrific” injuries in the attack and that friends who witnessed the incident pulled him from the water onto their boat, performing CPR on the way back to shore.

They were met at Geordie Bay Jetty by police and paramedics who also gave Mr Mattaboni CPR, but could not revive him.

Mr Mattaboni lived in Perth’s northern suburbs with his family and was the secretary of the spearfishing club Bluewater Freedivers of Western Australia.

Despite the attack, beaches on Rottnest Island have remained open, with authorities warning beachgoers to exercise caution and monitor shark warnings.

‘A dangerous sport’

Graham Henderson, president of the Australian Underwater Federation (AUF), the peak body representing spearfishing, paid his respects to Mr Mattaboni.

“My heart goes out to his family, the club members and the people who were supporting him out on that dive,” he said.

“Spearfishing, we understand it is a dangerous sport in some way, but we try to mitigate those risks.

“Any competitions we have, we have safety boats in the area and we often put drones up to spot sharks.

“But of course when people are doing it recreationally … that is probably when they are most vulnerable.”

Mr Henderson said he was aware of increased interactions with sharks across the WA coast in recent underwater sporting competitions.

“They’re coming in a lot closer [than usual] and we think it’s due to feeding patterns and global warming which is bringing them in closer to shore,” he said.

“When we lose someone it’s just awful, and it affects the community for sure.

“A lot of people who are thinking of going spear fishing maybe today or during the week will be reconsidering it, and putting in extra safety guards if they do.”

Tributes flow

WA Police Minister Reece Whitby paid tribute to Mr Mattaboni and thanked those who tried to save him.

“I want to acknowledge the diver’s friends who played a critical role in doing the best they could to bring [him] back to shore,” he said.

“My heart and thoughts go out to the man’s family, friends and loved ones.

“He loved the ocean and loved diving and it is just incredibly tragic.”

Mr Whitby also thanked all the first responders who assisted at the scene.

“They all witnessed a very confronting, disturbing and tragic scene,” he said.

Fellow state government minister Meredith Hammat also paid her respects to Mr Mattaboni.

“Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and his friends,” she said.

“It’s a tragic loss and I know it’s deeply felt right around the Western Australian community, particularly for those people who knew and loved him.”