As encounters with sharks increase off Sydney, a local spearfisher has filmed a particularly close one as he was circled by a great white at Maroubra.

Both hunters kept a close eye on each other, before connecting in a dramatic face-off caught on his GoPro.

Dean goes to the ocean to find peace but on Tuesday afternoon he found a curious 2.5-metre great white that was drawn to his catch.

Spear-fisher Dean and the great white shark kept a close eye on each other, before connecting in a dramatic face-off caught on his GoPro. (9News)

For 3½ minutes, they were locked in a staring contest.

”It was a mixture of feelings, fear, admiration, like such a beautiful creature” Dean said.

“(I) just sorta went into survival mode in terms of how I was going to behave.”

As the shark circled and came towards him, Dean made a decision.

“I duck-dived at that point and swam straight at it, just hoping that it was going to turn and it did. It turned broadside” he said.

“Then I pushed my gun out, speargun, just trying to warn her. 

“It didn’t even phase her, she just kept kicking.”

With another direct approach, he jammed his speargun into the shark’s nose, and knew it was time to get out.

His action camera captured his immediate relief.

Spear-fisher Dean goes to the ocean to find peace but on Tuesday afternoon he found a curious 2.5-metre great white that was drawn to his catch. (9News)

“F—ing hell, well I’m alive,” he said, at the water’s edge.

“Still got the heart pumping. Surprisingly I stayed really calm, just sort of kept my eyes on it.

“The only time I freaked out was when I couldn’t see it anymore.”

The tagged shark pinged a local receiver at Maroubra 10 minutes before Dean’s encounter.

Data showed it had been hanging around the area for several days after travelling up from Stanwell Park.

<p _tmplitem="1">A light-flippered seal has been photographed avoiding certain death in the jaws of a great white shark just off South Africa.</p><p _tmplitem="1">
Italian photographer Sergio Riccardo, pictured, couldn't believe his eyes when the giant fish burst from the water just off Cape Town recently, only for the seal to bounce off the tip of its nose and high into the air.</p><p _tmplitem="1">
On the way down, the hungry shark snapped, missing the airborne mammal again by the smallest of margins allowing its dinner to make a hasty escape.</p><p _tmplitem="1">
The 51-year-old photographer, hailing from Sorrento, said a dense population of seals on nearby Seal Island made it a prime feeding location for great whites.</p><p _tmplitem="1">
It was not unusual to witness seals attacked by sharks, Mr Riccardo said, but he was lucky to his camera at hand ready to shoot.</p><p _tmplitem="1">
"I was glad to see the seal escape on this occasion," he said.</p><p _tmplitem="1">
Scroll through to see the action. <i _tmplitem="1">All images Pictures Media</i></p>

Lucky seal escapes jaws of a great white shark

Dean intends to share his footage with the Department of Primary Industries.

“I think standing my ground was important,” he said.

“Not letting her know she was alpha, even though she certainly was.”

He even managed to hang on to the salmon that attracted the shark in the first place.

“It’s in the fridge actually. I’m going to have it for lunch today,” Dean said.

You May Also Like

Save $200+ with Apple Prime Day deals on Day 3: AirPods, MacBooks, more

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if…

Thursday's Final Word

Thursday's Final Word

Jarryd Hayne marks a family milestone with his kids at State of Origin as footy great and his wife are pictured together for the first time in more than two years

Jarryd Hayne and his partner, Amellia, shared a snap of themselves taking…

Two New Mexico Children Dead as Flooding Devastates Multiple States

Flooding continues to destroy homes and businesses and kill people in…