Rather chew than me: Nerveless diver captures stunning close up shots of gaping shark mouths with razor sharp teeth

Lemon sharks measuring up to 2.5metres pictured in the Bahamas

Diver Andrew Murch said they were 'practically bouncing off my camera'

Wasn't wearing any protective chainmail or body armour while underwater



This is the dramatic moment a diver in the Bahamas had a very close encounter with a fearsome lemon shark.

The 2.5metre long fish is shown baring a menacing set of teeth as it breaks the surface at Tiger Beach during sunrise.



Photographer Andrew Murch captured the shots during an eventful dive when the lemon sharks suddenly appeared within millimeters of his camera.

Up close and personal: The lemon shark bares its razor sharp teeth to the camera in these dramatic shots

Jaw-dropping: The lemon shark was pictured breaking the surface of the water at Tiger Beach in the Bahamas

Fearless: Photographer Andrew Murch captured these images during a dramatic dive with lemon sharks Several of the dangerous sharks appeared fascinated by their aquatic companion and decided to take a closer look. RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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Next Bet I can go faster than you: Boy, 3, and his sister who... Two fisherman left adrift in the Pacific Ocean for FOUR... Share this article Share The results are these beautiful images which couldn't paint are more intimate picture of one of the sea's most feared creatures. Andrew said: 'It’s a difficult moment to capture because it is unusual to see sharks breaking the surface but at Tiger Beach in the Bahamas the sharks get very excited around divers and make very close passes.' Surprisingly, Andrew,from Victoria, Canada, has never once been bitten throughout his dangerous expeditions underwater. And he doesn’t even take precautions when underwater with the sharks. He explained: 'I didn't feel the need for chainmail or other armour but I always wear a dark wetsuit and dark gloves just in case the sharks mistake my hands for bait. I also try to stay calm and avoid erratic jerky movements that might be interpreted as an animal in distress.'

Almost finished: The lemon sharks appeared naturally curious of the cameraman Andrew Murch

Underwater friend: Lemon sharks have been known to attack humans but none have been fatal

'The shark seemed wary of me but tolerated my presence. I say tolerated because it clearly outranked me from a size perspective. I believe that the shark thought of me as another predator; albeit a clumsy one with strange flashing appendages.'

Andrew, who runs diving adventures company Big Fish Expeditions, came so close to the sharks on this dive he said they were touching his equipment.

'The lemons were practically bouncing off my underwater camera, but they showed no aggressiveness towards me during this photo shoot,' he said.

'They have never shown me any hostility. After nearly two decades of swimming with sharks, it has become quite clear to me that they are not interested in divers as a food source. We generally bring bait to attract the sharks to the boat and thats the only reason they come so close.'

The lemon shark, which is found in tropical waters around the Caribbean and west Africa, derives its name from its distinctive yellow colouring.