School of hammerhead sharks spotted in the Great Sandy Strait

A close encounter with a school of hammerhead sharks was captured on a day on the boat with the family.

Wayne Smith and his family were sailing off the coast of Hervey Bay in southeastern Queensland when they spotted the group of sharks over the weekend.

He filmed the incredible interaction with five sharks who swam and swam up to their boat in water only half a meter deep, 7NEWS reported.

Sharks could be seen in great detail in the clear waters of the Great Sandy Strait, between mainland Queensland and Fraser Island.

Mr. Smith’s footage first captured school of sharks swimming together in the distance.

‘Wow, there are maybe more than four. Wow, look at the size of them, “he heard himself say.

The five hammerhead sharks could be seen swimming as a school with their fins in the air before starting to approach the family boat.

A close-up shot showed a hammerhead shark swimming right next to the family boat with its fin stuck in the air.

“He’s coming straight to the boat, look at him. It’s a huge sacred dooley, “said one woman.

The hammerhead shark was closely followed by another shark gliding through the crystal clear water.

The family continued to watch the sharks as they splashed around the boat.

The children could be heard shouting “wow” in awe.

“I think it’s about seven feet,” explained Mr. Smith.

The Great Sandy Strait stretches for 70km and is known for its thriving marine life thanks to a complex landscape of sandbanks, mangroves and network of inlets.

It is an important habitat where fish, dugongs, dolphins and turtles breed.