The South African-born goofy-footer was third in her round two heat at the Doyle Partners Women's Pro, a 5000-point qualifying series event, at Merewether and needed a 3.87 in the dying minutes to overtake Japan's Emily Nishimoto into second place and progress.

She came up short with a 3.47 from a one-turn ride inside the final 90 seconds but she was saved just seconds later when Nishimoto committed an interference against last-placed Port Kembla surfer Charli Hurst.

Nishimoto and Hurst paddled for the same wave and the Japanese goofy-footer stood up and turned towards the Australian, who had priority and needed a 3.13.

Hurst then stood up, both surfers pulled off the wave, but Nishimoto had already caused an interference.

The call meant Nishimoto could record only one score, instead of two, which dropped her to 4.0, last place and out of the contest.

Baum, who wiped out with a 2.8 in the final seconds, jumped to second on 6.84 and progressed along with winner Pauline Ado (11.77).

It was an amazing stroke of luck for in-form Baum, who has won two events and made three consecutive QS finals heading to Surfest.

She heard the interference call when she stood up for her last wave and hoped it was against second place.

"I can't believe how lucky I am," Baum said. "Things never go my way like that, so wow.

"I just take what I can get and I'm just pretty grateful, it's horrible to say, that she did make that mistake. You live and you learn. I'll take it."

The dramatic finish came after a frustrating heat for Baum, who won her round-one contest in the morning.

Baum had surfed off the rocks by herself, 200 metres from her rivals, for most of the round-two heat. She paddled closer to the others for the final eight minutes in search of better waves.

"I had a game plan and it was OK, but then I heard Pauline getting some big scores and I quickly got out there," she said.

"But because of the tide, all the waves looked like they were going to break, and then they didn't."

Baum was forced to wait 90 minutes longer for her second heat after competition was put on hold because of two shark sightings.

The delay came with eight minutes left in heat three of round two, about 1.40pm, after a sighting by a water-ski safety patrol. A mandatory one-hour break was taken before another sighting extended the period. The sharks were believed to be small hammerheads.

Earlier, Hawaiian drawcards Bethany Hamilton and Alana Blanchard bowed out in round one with third placings. Corlette's Elle Clayton-Brown was also eliminated in round one.

Baum next faces Keely Andrew, Paige Hareb and India Robinson. Merewether's Philippa Anderson starts against Ado, Alessa Quizon and Dominic Barona.