This is the heart-stopping moment a pensioner snapped a selfie with a two-and-a-half metre-long crocodile after swimming right up to it.

Avid diver Rene Vagnetti was visiting Playa del Carmen, Mexico, when he heard about a site where people could swim with crocodiles.

Gripping footage shows the 70-year-old surfacing from the water right next to one of the dozing animals and managing to capture the animal up close.

After getting a good look at one of the animal’s scaly tails, Rene swam off only to encounter another croc floating in some reeds nearby, who again floated harmlessly facing him.

Rene, from Haute-Savoie, France, said: “I was very excited to be so close to a crocodile. I wasn’t too afraid because he seemed to be digesting a meal. I approached within about a metre of the crocodile but I had a 1.2 metre pole on my camera which is how I shot the close-ups".

The filmer said he stayed with the animal for at least 30 minutes because it didn't move much.

“I remained on my guard all the same because he was following my camera with his gaze and I was a little worried he would try and grab it from me.

Locals say that among the crocodiles in Casa Cenote, there is one locally known as Panchito that is a Morelet, a species that is considered harmless and is now used to human presence.

This is the heart stopping moment a pensioner snapped a selfie with a two-and-a-half metre-long crocodile after swimming right up to it.

Avid diver Rene Vagnetti was visiting Playa del Carmen, Mexico, when he heard about a site where people could swim with crocodiles nearby.

Gripping footage shows the 70-year-old surfacing from the water right next to one of the dozing animals and managing to capture the animal up close.

After getting a good look at one of the animal’s scaly tails, Rene swam off only to encounter another croc floating in some reeds nearby, who again floated harmlessly facing him.

Rene, from Haute-Savoie, France, said: “I was very excited to know that I was so close to a crocodile. I wasn’t too afraid because he seemed to be digesting a meal.

“I approached within about a metre of the crocodile but I had a 1.2metre pole on my camera which is how I shot the close ups.

“I stayed with him for at least 30 minutes because he didn't move much.

“I remained on my guard all the same because he was following my camera with his gaze and I was a little worried he would try and grab it from me.

“I had heard on a Mexican site that there was a crocodile in a cenote near Playa del Carmen and I wanted to go there to be sure.”

One of the animals could be one that is known locally as ‘Panchito’ who is a Morelet’s crocodile and lives in Casa Cenote, Mexico.

Local sources state that divers can swim with Panchito as the species is considered harmless and he is now used to human company.