FORT BRAGG, Calif. -- California has recorded its first fatal shark attack of the year.

The Coast Guard has recovered the headless body of a diver killed Sunday off the Mendocino County coast in Northern California.

Randy Fry, of Auburn, Calif., was attacked in shallow water by a great white shark estimated to be up to 18 feet long. He had been diving for abalone with a friend.

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The victim's friend said he noticed a large fish in water between them just before Fry disappeared. That fish is believed to be a great white shark, which is native to the waters where the two men were diving, reported KCRA-TV in Sacramento.

Frey's friend saw the attack and said it was over in five seconds. He said that when he saw the pool of blood spread across the surface of the water, he knew Fry had been killed.

The last fatal shark attack in California occurred in August 2003 off the central coast.

An active lobbyist for decades, Fry was a voice for divers and fishermen across the state.

Patrick Foy, of the state Department of Fish and Game, said he'll be diving in the same area Tuesday as part of group re-certification. He said what happened to Fry is rare.

"We just have to look back at the statistics and know that it is actually very rare for this to actually ever happen," Foy said.

Foy said the attack likely won't stop many divers, but it will be on their minds.

"In a situation like this, a day or two later, it certainly makes you more aware," he said.