Amazing footage has emerged of what appears to be a "playful" tiger shark allowing a diver to play with it.

The video, shot off the coast of Fiji last year, shows the man hugging and rubbing the large shark's belly.

''It was very close to him and from where I was it looked like it might attack,'' one of the other divers later wrote online.

''Then I realised that it wasn't being aggressive at all. Rather, it was interacting with him,'' he added.

The dive started uneventfully enough. A short boat ride across emerald blue seas to the drop off point.

All clear? Thumbs up. Back roll and down to 12 metres.

The first thing that struck us was the incredible fish life. Thousands of fish of all shapes and sizes.

Then suddenly out of the blue a four metre Tiger Shark. We were hoping to see them on this dive.

It first passed slightly below and ahead of us. We could see it checking us out.

Then it turned and came right towards us. I kept as close to the bottom as I could while having the presence of mind to keep filming.

The shark had a good look at me, went past, and made straight for our dive guide.

It was very close to him and from where I was it looked like it might attack.

But then I realised that it wasn't being aggressive at all. Rather, it was interacting with him.

We finished the dive soon after and made our way back to the boat. The adrenaline was still pumping by the time we got back on board. Everyone felt elated to have had such a close encounter with an amazing animal.