The terrifying image shows the great white shark sneaking up on its prey seconds before the brutal attack

An underwater photo has captured a great white shark sneaking up on its prey seconds before launching a brutal attack.

Mike Coots, 43, was snapping a series of photos of great white sharks off the coast of the Mexican island of Guadalupe when he snapped the chilling photo.

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Speaking of the images and the encounter, Coots told the Daily Mail: “I was photographing great whites in a shark cage and this shark had just missed a bite of tuna.

“This photo shows both the beauty and the brawn of such a powerful creature. It’s like looking at a live dinosaur.

“You can feel his energy and her eyes have the most incredible depth and shade of blue in them.

“You can feel their brain processing who you are and you can feel that energy. It is impressive.”

Coots lost his right leg in a tiger shark attack aged 18, resulting in a partial amputation.

He was bitten while boogie boarding off Kauai, Hawaii and escaped the shark’s jaws by punching it in the face.

The 1997 attack only strengthened Coots’ resolve as an advocate for the animals, as he soon became an activist campaigning for the conservation of the species.

“I have since become a staunch advocate for their conservation, using my imagery and the power of social media to share why they are important in the ocean as well as how beautiful they are,” he told the Daily Mail.

In 2010, Coots lobbied for Hawaii to enact a ban on the possession and sale of shark fins.

By developing a surfboard fin aimed at stopping shark killing, Coots wanted to stop pointing fingers at the animals when an attack occurs.

By adding the fins on the surfboard, surfers can let others know that if they are killed or injured in the water, they don’t want a shark being chased.

Throughout his advocacy and photographs, Coots hopes everyone will like the shark as many of the species become increasingly endangered.

“One is often so engrossed in the photographic process and the presence of such large animals that one often forgets the very moments that one is capturing.

“It’s only when you download them to your computer and see what you have that it can leave you speechless.

“I hope people see something unique in my paintings. I studied photographing people in art school and use the same techniques and lenses as if I were photographing a person.”

Posting the latest photos on Instagram, he said, “I’d rather not photograph anything else.”

“The greatest muse in the world; Beauty, brawn and brains.”