It 's a feast of epic proportions . Hungry sharks , dolphins , gannets and even a whale take part in a feeding frenzy of a staggering nine million sardines . The huge cluster of sardines form a ball as a defence mechanism to try and look bigger but that does n't stop the predators attacking them . Scroll down for video . Dolphins take the opportunity for all-you-can eat buffet of sardines in The Wild Coast , on the East coast of South Africa . This gannet gets perilously close to a marauding shark , and appears to realise the danger nearby . A whale decided to get involved in the action , but there was enough food to go around for sure . Dolphins lead the hunt and attack first , causing the school of fish to split up - after it is a free for all between the sharks , gannets and whale . The frenzy was 25 metres beneath the surface and lasted for over a staggering seven hours . Wildlife photographer Michael Aw was underwater and managed to capture the spectacular feeding frenzy which took place in The Wild Coast , on the East coast of South Africa . Michael , 59 , who is from Sydney , Australia , said that seeing this mass feast , called the 'sardine run ' , was 'the greatest show on earth - the pinnacle of wildlife adventure . ' The huge cluster of sardines form a ball as a defence mechanism to try and look bigger but that does n't stop the predators attacking them . This shark must have thought all its dreams had come true as around nine million sardines swim past . Around 300 dusky sharks , bronze whale sharks and sand tiger sharks all got in on the action and were joined by 150 dolphins and 1000 gannets - as well as a Bryde 's whale . Michael , who photographs the sardine run every year , said : 'This is the greatest show on earth - the pinnacle of wildlife adventure . ' A scientist confirmed that there were nine million sardines in the huge ball , it was happening 25 metres below the surface . 'The dolphins break out a size-able chunk of sardines from the main shoal and chase it to near the surface . Around 300 dusky sharks , bronze whale sharks and sand tiger sharks all got in on the action and were joined by 150 dolphins and 1000 gannets . Michael Aw , who photographs the sardine run every year , described it as 'the greatest show on earth - the pinnacle of wildlife adventure ' 'Then it is a free for all - the birds dived in , and then the sharks and whaled moved in to feast . 'The gannets , sharks and the whale are all opportunist feeders . 'The school of sardines were hurling away and forming a big ball to look bigger as a defence mechanism . ' I was there from 9am until 4pm and when I left , they were still feeding . 'Witnessing it was breathtaking - exhilarating - nothing can compare to it , it was the wildest of all wild moments . ' The frenzy was 25 metres beneath the surface and lasted for over a staggering seven hours .
Wildlife photographer Michael Aw was underwater and managed to capture the spectacular feeding frenzy . Action took place in The Wild Coast , on the East coast of South Africa . A group of African penguins are seen eating a fish at Cape Town Zoo in this photo taken by wildlife photographer Michael Aw.