A paddleboarder had a close encounter with a great white shark when the predator circled his board in the ocean.

Filmmaker and cinematographer Carlos Gauna, 45, shot drone footage of the interaction off the coast in Ventura County, California.

According to Gauna, the juvenile great white shark was likely less than a year old, due to its size.

"In that video, you can see the paddleboarder was just out paddleboarding," Gauna said. "His buddy points out a dorsal fin."

"These sharks are very curious, but often they're timid as well."

"What's interesting about this video is that the shark doubled back. "

"You can see it goes right back to the paddle boarder, behind the paddleboard, and that's typical behavior."

"The sharks learn at an early age that their safest spot is to be behind the subject."

"In Southern California, that scene is pretty common, especially in the summer months."

"There are a lot of juvenile white sharks near shore."

Gauna says these young sharks pose little threat.

"I wasn't afraid for the paddleboarder's safety," he said. "Not with a juvenile white shark. "

"These sharks don't even have the teeth developed yet to go after marine mammals. "

"A young-of-the-year juvenile white shark will eat mainly fish, bat rays, and smaller things like that."

As for anyone hoping to stay safe and enjoy the spectacle, Gauna has practical advice.

"If you ever encounter one, just look behind," he said. "You don't chase it and take in the sight. They're pretty amazing animals to see up close."

The video was filmed in May.