Banfi, 57, first discovered the rock, which measures 160 feet wide, on a diving cruise 10 years ago.

He said: ‘The place is still magical just like it was when I first visited ten years ago.’

‘So many animals surround Dirty Rock because it is in the middle of the Pacific, far away from the coast.’

The Cardo, Switzerland native said that the rock is not accessible via regular boat, so intrepid explorers can only visit when the weather is stable.

‘Some of the creatures were just swimming around, others were hunting - so they'd come close to the rock and then go away again - and others came close because they were curious about us,’ he said.

‘The animals are not afraid of the divers – so they get quite close.’