A group of Great White sharks were caught on drone camera as they feasted on a dead dolphin that was floating off the California coastline.

The exceptional footage begins with dolphin floating upside down in the  aquamarine waters of the Pacific Ocean.

At first the sharks are seen to circle the dolphin as they weigh up the chances of a delicious meal or the mammal fighting back.

Upon realizing the creature is no longer capable of putting up a fight, one shark makes a move and takes a big bite out of the dolphins body.

Four Great White sharks off the coast of California were captured via a drone camera feasting on a dead dolphin floating in the Pacific Ocean

A group of swimmers were also able to observe the action from a nearby boat

Another three sharks gradually appear on the scene as they realize that this serving of dolphin is enough for the whole family.

The sharks circle their already-dead prey and each take turns ripping the mammal to shreds.

The water around the dolphin quickly turns red as blood, guts, and the rest of its insides begin to spew out.

Despite the gruesome nature of the video the cameraman continues to film the apparently ‘rare’ spectacle.

The sharks’ meal appeared to take place just a short distance away from shore

The drone footage was able to clearly focus in on the sharks feasting on the dead dolphin

This was an easy lunch for the sharks. All the while, a group of swimmers are seen lounging about on a nearby boat with first class seats to the action.

The video is made all the more haunting by the music that is played over it which can only be described as ethereal in quality.

Four Great Whites were spotted feasting on the carcass of the dolphin as it floated in the water

The entire encounter only happened just a short distance from the shore

‘I don’t know who the folks on the boat are, but they got a first row seat to the show,’ wrote The Malibu Artist who shot the footage and posted it to YouTube where it has generated 178,000 views.

‘There were a total of 4 Great Whites ranging from 6 feet to 14 feet in length hanging just behind the shore breaks.

‘A rare sight, and certainly one of the most unique things I’ve seen just off the shore,’ he wrote.