BBC Northern Ireland released an astonishing video of broadcaster Colin Stafford-Johnson going in search of basking sharks – and they even came to the surface to say hello!

Stafford-Johnson was awestruck as he could hear their tails swishing from side to side as the three sharks swam nearby.

He explains that as they have two fins, sometimes people think there are more sharks than there actually are.

The incredible aerial footage shows that the sharks are bigger than the presenter’s boat!

The enormous creatures, which can be anywhere from 6 to 8 meters long, come to Ireland during the summer months.

Despite their intimidating size, they are not dangerous to humans or other fish as they only eat plankton.