A freediver greeted a sea turtle as she swam underwater before gliding back to the surface.

Footage shows swimmer Roby Velasco approaching the large reptile and waving to it as it was perched on the sea floor off the coast of Bohol province, the Philippines, on November 11.

After the brief encounter, Roby paddled upwards while the marine creature remained below.

She said: 'I learned freediving in July and explored some famous diving sites. I was so amazed by the scenery.

'I enjoy watching the turtles so much that I dive many times to make sure I bring beautiful shots of them home with me.'

Green sea turtles are named for the greenish colour of their body fat derived from their vegetarian diet. They are one of the most widespread species of sea turtles and are essential for maintaining healthy marine ecosystems.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies most sea turtle species as endangered or threatened due to habitat loss, pollution, poaching, accidental bycatch, and drastic climate change.