A diver has told of his terror after his experience diving with sharks went horribly wrong, before video of the incident made international headlines.
Ming Chan was diving at Guadalupe Island, off the coast of Mexico, when a large great white shark managed to make its way inside his dive cage.
Without any warning he found himself trapped inside the tiny cage with the shark.
And now, after millions of people have watched the video and his incredible effort to escape unharmed, Mr Chan has told just how he avoided becoming lunch for the maneater.
Ming Chan took these photos of great whites, before having a closer than expected encounter. Photo / Ming Chang / FB
"I felt his panic...and thought 'Hey, come on buddy, you don't want to come into my cage'," he told the Today Show.
"I didn't have time to get frightened, but found myself outside the cage."
Adding to his horror, Chan looked down to see another two sharks swimming just metres from his feet.
Without a moments hesitation he swam back towards the safety of the cage, ensuring he wouldn't become lunch for the pair of "four or five metre long" predators.
"I saw there was nothing inside the cage... so crawled back up to the surface," Chan said.
Once back on the safety of the boat both Chan and the crew could be heard breathing sighs of relief.
Sharks were lured near the cage with pieces of tuna. Photo / Ming Chan / Facebook
Chan, who is an experienced diver, remained remarkably calm during the incident. Photo / Ming Chan / Facebook
But despite the near death experience, the diver said he hopes to get a chance to go into shark territory again.
More than four million people have watched the video since it was posted to YouTube on Thursday.
The footage starts with a huge shark rising to the surface of the water in order to devour a piece of bait, used to attract sharks to the cage so the diver in the nearby cage can capture photographs of it.
Diver Ming Chan who captured some amazing images during his shark dives. Photo / Ming Chan / Facebook
But a split second later the water inside the cage begins frothing and foaming as it becomes apparent that the shark, measuring around 3m long, has somehow ended up on the other side of the bars.
Realising what has happened, the observers on the boat throw the cage escape hatch open, providing the panicked predator with a getaway route.
Within moments the shark forces itself free, bleeding badly from the gills on its left side, likely as a result of having injured itself on its way into the cage.
Once it has found its way back into the open water it quickly disappears again, leaving the panicked boat crew trying to work out if anybody was inside with it.
Slowly it dawns on them that there was a man trapped inside with the awesome predator, and several nervous moments follow as they wait for him to emerge.
Fortunately he surfaces after a few seconds, tapping the top of his head with his right hand, a diving signal which means "I'm OK", as the others clap and cheer.
Clearly shaken by the experience, he tells those watching: "My heart is going," while pounding his chest.
It is understood he slipped out of the bottom of the cage when the shark got trapped in it.
Little did Chan know he would get even closer to the majestic creatures. Photo / Ming Chan / Facebook
The close encounter was captured on video by a father from California.
The diver was luring the shark towards the cage with tuna when it thrust forward and broke a metal rail.
The father said: "I thought I was filming someone dying ... I couldn't believe he just walked out of it."
Despite parts of the California coast being great white breeding territory, attacks are relatively rare, although one did happen earlier this year.
Maria Korcsmaros, 52, was attacked by a shark, believed to be a great white, off Corona del Mar State Beach back in June leaving her with bite wounds on her leg.
Following the attack, at least two great whites measuring up to 3.5m were spotted in the water nearby, prompting beaches to be closed for miles around.
