Incredible drone footage shows a group of nearly 50 manta rays feeding in the Maldives.

The footage was captured by Simon Hillbourne, a marine biologist and ocean conservationist working for the Manta Trust.

Hillbourne, who is also a professional underwater photographer, captured the drone footage in Hanifaru Bay.

Speaking about the footage, Hillbourne said: "We were monitoring and studying the population of reef manta rays in Baa Atoll. Hanifaru Bay itself is a very important site of manta rays and is the location of the biggest aggregations of reef manta rays in the world! The most the Manta Trust has recorded in the bay on a single day was over 240 individuals. In this drone clip there were about 50 individuals and the lady swimming near them is one of our researchers."

Footage was filmed July 19, 2019.

Incredible drone footage shows a group of nearly 50 manta rays feeding in the Maldives. The footage was captured by Simon Hillbourne, a marine biologist and ocean conservationist working for the Manta Trust. Hillbourne, who is also a professional underwater photographer, captured the drone footage in Hanifaru Bay. Speaking about the footage, Hillbourne said: ‘We were monitoring and studying the population of reef manta rays in Baa Atoll. Hanifaru Bay itself is a very important site of manta rays and is the location of the biggest aggregations of reef manta rays in the world! The most the Manta Trust has recorded in the bay on a single day was over 240 individuals. In this drone clip there were about 50 individuals and the lady swimming near them is one of our researchers.’

Video via Simon Hillbourne I Manta Trust