The Hanley siblings have recounted the heart-stopping moment they came face to face with a large shark in the waters off Bulli Point on Sunday.
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The amazing yet terrifying encounter was captured on video, which has since gone viral.
The trio, Taia, 16 and twins Baxter and Jobi, 13, along with their father Scott, were snorkeling and spearfishing on the south side of the point when Taia saw what she thought was a large fish.
"I was filming while the boys were trying to find fish," she said. "We were just swimming. I went over to Baxter, who had his gun, and then I saw a big shadow in my peripheral vision.
"I got my camera out thinking it was a big fish. It kept getting closer, then I thought, 'that's not a fish, that is a shark'.
"The shark swam in a big loop around us then came straight towards us," Baxter said.
"That was really scary. I just kept thinking, 'what if comes and has a bite'."
Taia said she was in "panic mode", and can be heard screaming in the footage, as she is petrified of sharks.
"We were lucky not to get hurt but having a spear also made us feel better," Baxter said.
"I was trying to stay calm. I know sharks usually just come to have a look but they can have a go and I knew I might have to scare it away."
Jobi and Scott heard the screaming and bolted over to Taia and Baxter.
"Dad told us to go into shore straight away. I put my arm around Taia for protection," Jobi said.
"I had my knife in one hand and Baxter was on the other side of Taia.
"I gave my gun to Dad, who was swimming at the back of us to see if the shark came back."
Taia said when the shark turned away, she felt a sense of relief but then she didn't know where it was.
"We weren't sure if it was going to come back but it was a relief when we came back to shore," she said.
"I was so grateful when I was able to stand up in shallow water."
The shark swam in a big loop around us then came straight towards us. That was really scary. I just kept thinking, 'what if comes and has a bite'.
- Baxter Hanley
The siblings were full of adrenaline when back on shore and Taia was so glad she captured the encounter on video.
"My first instinct was to get my camera out and film," Taia said.
"Now we are processing what happened and it is hard to comprehend a shark came close to us," Baxter said.
"That was something we always feared in the ocean."
"We feel so lucky it didn't bite one of us," Jobi said.
"I didn't think I was going to die but I thought it might have had a nibble because it was so close," Taia said.
The siblings said they respect sharks and know the risks when entering the ocean.
"We only go into the water when it is the best time," Baxter said. "We are interfering with sharks' environment."
The siblings are still taking in their new stardom, as the video has gone viral. Taia said she was proud of herself for capturing the experience so well as she loves doing underwater photography.
Illawarra Surf Life Saving duty officer Anthony Turner praised the teenagers' actions.
"It was an extraordinary video," Mr Turner said. "Many people spend their lifetime in the ocean and it is pretty rare to see sharks but we know it their ecosystem and backyard.
"The teenagers did a great job. They didn't panic, they called out for help and made a beeline back to shore.
"We just have to be mindful of sharks and take all the safety precautions we can such as not to swim or surf at dawn or dusk; don't be in murky water after heavy rain; or at river mouths where sharks like to feed."
There were two other shark sightings on Monday at McCauley's Beach, Thirroul and off an Austinmer Beach where the animals were feeding on bait fish.
Mr Turner advised to avoid areas where there were bait fish or diving birds.
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