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A brave diver has captured shocking footage of a super-sized stingray - that has a knife-like barb which can be fatal for humans - resting on the floor of the ocean bed.
Stefano Ulivi, 42, said the huge creature looked like an 'alien' as he approached, at first mistaking it for a rock.
He was diving in the waters surrounding Azores in the Pico Islands, when he discovered the massive stingray , believed to be up to three metres (9ft 8) - the equivalent of a shark or dolphin.
While trying to get a better view of the massive monster dwelling at 20 metres below sea level, the alien-looking stingray spotted him and within seconds vanished from sight as its fins flapped it away to safety.
Stefano, from Florence, Italy, filmed the footage four-months-ago and managed to get within a metre of the stingray.