Fisherman shares video of rare encounter with 'massive' great white shark

I don't admitting a certain trepidation when it comes to the dark blue depths of the ocean.

Every time I venture into the sea for a quick swim on a hot summer's day, every slight brush of seaweed against my leg, every dark shadow in the water and every miniature fish passing by represents a paroxysm of nervous energy.

I don't think I'm alone in my wariness of the ocean, and when you think about it logically, it's perfectly natural to be a little afraid of the water. Quite apart from the inherent risks of ocean swimming, there are all manner of unusual creatures plumbing its depths.

And surely most terrifying of all are sharks.

Yes, sharks are capable of striking fear into the hearts of many of us, especially when they're a great white shark as massive as the one that was spotted off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland recently.

You can watch the incredible footage right here:

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Per ABC 15, Fisherman Steven White, who captured the video, said;

"All of a sudden, a big white shark shows up right next to the boat and decides to swim around the boat and give us a show for about 10-15 minutes.

"She showed up, every bit 15 to 18-foot-long, just huge, 2,000-3,000 pounds, it's a massive animal."

The captain of the boat reportedly coaxed the great white closer by adding some extra bait into the water. Steven White added;

"Other than in an aquarium, that's the first White I've seen in the wild, I have a whole new perspective on what a really big fish in the ocean looks like."

Assistant Curator of Blue Wonders at the National Aquarium Jennie Janssen told ABC 15 that great white sharks do pass the Ocean City area every year, but to actually see one is a rare occurence.

"It's not uncommon for them to be in the waters here, they typically migrate through this area every year around this time, so it's not uncommon, but it's definitely a treat if you are able to be in that close proximity with them,” she said.