Shark v Dog: Astonishing moment 12ft hammerhead is attacked by Bahamas pup as tourists watch on

This is the astonishing moment a shark was attacked by a dog which fearlessly dived into the sea in front of screaming tourists on a Bahamas boat trip.

Fearing the worst, the British and American visitors screamed and shouted as the dog leapt at the dark shape of the 12-foot hammerhead circling in the waters below.

But despite the huge size difference between the small pup and the sea beast, the dog got the better of the shark, seemingly scaring it off back out into the ocean.

Footage of the unexpected battle was captured by one of the tourists on the boat last week, near a private island in the southern Bahamas.

The sight of the massive hammerhead shark was already a rare treat for the 32 travellers on board. But then they witnessed something stranger still, when the dog jumped from a nearby dock to confront the monstrous sea creature.

This is the astonishing moment a huge 12-foot hammerhead shark was attacked by a dog which fearlessly dived into the sea in front of screaming tourists on a Bahamas boat trip

Tourists aboard the four-hour excursion can be heard pleading with the dog to turn back, in a video circulating on social media.

‘Oh my god!’ and ‘Get out baby!’ and ‘Stop going after it!’ they are heard shouting.

The dog ignored their warnings and paddled after the 12-foot shark, which thrashed as the two animals circled each other in the stunning transparent turquoise waters.

Then the shark swam away slowly, much to the delight and surprise of the crowd.

‘I don’t think the shark is going to mess with him!’ exclaimed one man.

The fish had emerged from under the boat during a tour on Wednesday in the southern Bahamas organized by Exuma Water Sports.

Company reservations manager Rebecca Lightbourn told The Associated Press on Friday that the black-and-tan dog always runs along the shore to greet the boat when it passes that island. But it was the first time it was seen diving in.

‘I guess this time the dog decided he wanted to protect his house or play with a really big fish in the water, so he went after it,’ Lightbourn said.

Speaking to Today, Lightbourn said the dog – nicknamed ‘Rufus’ – was a Bahamian Potcake, and belongs to a caretaker on the private island. 

The tourists filmed the shark as it swam underneath their boat and towards a pier, but as neared the wooden platform, the tourists filming the encounter noticed a dog preparing itself to jump in and seemingly attack the shark

The dog (seen with it’s head above water next to the wooden pier) leapt into the water and paddled around over the top of the shark, which was seen thrashing around below the water

Despite the huge size difference between the small pup and the sea beast, the dog got the better of the shark, seemingly scaring it off back out into the ocean. Pictured: The shark is seen swimming back out towards the open ocean after the unlikely encounter with the dog

When the shark swam away from the pier, the medium-sized dog scrambled back onto the rocks and loped away (pictured) earning applause from the watching tourists

She said she had seen the dog since the encounter, and that he is ‘100% A-ok’.

When the shark swam away from the pier, the medium-sized dog scrambled back onto the rocks and loped away, earning applause from the tourists.

Tourists could be heard yelling ‘good boy,’ while one asked: ‘How’d he get way with that?’ Others said they feared the dog would jump at the shark a second time. 

The boat then headed to a popular area where tourists jump into the water with the renowned Bahamian swimming pigs.