This was the moment two brothers and a friend who were paddleboarding and kayaking off the coast near Santa Barbara, California encountered a great white shark only metres below the surface.

The footage from August 16 shows the beast lurking under the surface as the filmer's brother and friend recoil in horror in their kayak.

Filmer and paddleboarder, Jackson Krischer, told Newsflare: "Almost every day I take my paddleboard to go look at great whites.

"This time, I encountered and filmed a very calm one that swam right under my board - they usually swim away.

Krischer later explained the beast stayed close to them for over 20 minutes then disappeared.

Almost every day I take my paddle board to go look at great whites. This time, I encountered and filmed a very calm one that swam right under my board (they usually swim away)

As usual, I was out looking for great whites on the paddleboard, this time with my brother and his friend in a kayak. We encountered a very friendly great white that stayed near us for over 20 minutes.