The rotting carcass of a sperm whale and circling sharks are not enough to deter two young women from swimming at Cape Conran.

The whale, 11 metres long, was found dead near Salmon Rocks in East Gippsland earlier this week.

It has since disintegrated, and attracted a large shark – probably a Great White – to shallow waters.

But Mike Irvine from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning told Tom Elliott 

‘I’ve just had a disturbing report that two young early-20s girls were swimming in there,’ he said.

‘Not great to hear that.’

Click play to hear the shocked Mr Irvine on 3AW Drive