A Perth diver has "stared into the eyes" of a great white shark off the south coast of WA to prove the creatures are not bloodthirsty man-eaters.
Filmmaker Ashley Gibb was diving in a renowned shark haven, Lucky Bay in Esperance, when he came face-to-face with a great white.
"I felt this massive thump and I was taken by complete surprise," he told 9 News Perth.
"I wasn't sure if it was real at first and then things got very real. We were literally face-to-face staring into each other's eyes."
The 29-year-old filmed the massive shark for more than two minutes, at times coming within inches of his face.
Despite only being metres away from the jaws of the great white, he was relatively calm until the giant creature started to circle him a number of times.
"It went on a bit too long and I got a weird vibe and that's when I started to get really concerned," he said.
"And when the shark swam away and came back face-to-face...sort of coming directly at me that's when I thought this could be it."
Mr Gibb said he got up close and personal with the shark to prove the creatures get a bad rap as man-eaters.
"We are definitely not their food of choice... that shark had every chance to make me his dinner," he said.
Shark experts Hugh Edwards said the man's close encounter with the shark was "remarkable".
Mr Edwards has always argued great whites should not be killed after a fatal attack, as the animals are a protected species.
"A big great white about the same weight as an SUV," Mr Edwards said after viewing the video.
"What a piece of extraordinary good luck to find a great white in a good mood and so quickly and so easily."
