【Michael Maien】

Sharks are Michael Maienoften characterised as one of the most dangerous creatures on the planet, which is pretty unfair, considering humans are a thing.

But a couple of unlikely best mates are out to change all that. Rick Anderson is a diving instructor from Port Macquarie, Australia, is BFFs with a Port Jackson shark and their bond is goddamn beautiful.

Anderson and the non-human-eating shark have been friends for over half a decade, and hang out on the reg each summer, having met when the shark was just a wee baby.

Speaking to Mashable,Anderson says the shark will come over and poke him if he doesn't get a hug.

"Over the past seven years during the start of summer she would return to the reef we met and if we saw each other she would come for a pat and tickle, to the point that if i didn't notice her she would tap me on the legs until i turned around with my arms out and rest on them for a cuddle," he said via email.

But Anderson doesn't suggest you go out there and start trying to be friends with every shark you see. "They're all wild animals and they’ll let you know if they don’t want to be handled," he said. "If you touch some of them, you can also wipe off their protective layers of skin."

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See? It's not all teeth and violence in the ocean. It's also friendship goals.