Incredible behind the scenes footage from David Attenborough's new documentary series Blue Planet II has been released, showing a group of massive sixgill sharks attacking a submarine housing the film crew.
The footage is a behind the scenes look at episode two entitled The Deep, which focuses on the dark world of the sea floor, requiring deep sea submarines to help capture the amazing scenes.
In the video a group of huge sixgill sharks are feasting on a whale carcass over 700m below the ocean's surface.
After reaching a feeding frenzy the sharks then turn their attention to the submarine, repeatedly crashing into it with their large bodies causing massive booms to reverberate inside the sub.
Assistant producer on The Deep, Will Ridgeon, wrote about the terrifying encounter in a blog post.
"There was already massive sixgill sharks ripping into the carcass, sending plumes of blood into the water," he wrote.
"In the sub's lights, the whole scene turned deep red. It was a very unnerving place to be.
"And as more sharks arrived, they began to turn on the sub, bumping and biting at the acrylic dome and pushing us around.
"The sub is very sturdy, but you can't help wonder what damage these powerful sharks are inflicting – even the experienced pilot Joachim admitted he was a little afraid."
Blue Planet ll premieres on New Zealand screens on TVNZ1 Sunday November 12 at 7:30pm.
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