This is the spectacular moment a freediver was surrounded by dozens of sharks in the Maldives.

Songklod Jearanaisil encountered a school of nurse sharks during his snorkelling trip on April 20.

Footage shows the sea creatures swimming around him along with other fish, as he remains upright with his hands by his sides, calmly observing the gentle animals.

Songklod said: 'Swimming with nurse sharks is a very popular activity when visiting the Maldives. They are not aggressive and generally pose no danger to humans. However, it's important not to wave your arms too much, as baby sharks might mistake them for injured fish.'

Nurse sharks can grow up to 14 ft (4.3 m) in length. They are bottom-dwellers, often seen resting in groups on the seafloor during the day and hunting at night. Instead of biting, they use powerful suction to feed on prey like fish, shrimp, and squid.