A rare leatherback turtle was spotted off the coast of Gower in Swansea on Monday afternoon.
The turtle was seen munching on a huge Barrel Jellyfish which they often feed on in Welsh waters, although they are very rarely spotted.
The species are the largest turtles in the world, measuring around 2.9 metres and weighing a staggering 916kg, or 144 stone.
The sea creature was discovered by boat tour agency Gower Coast Adventures, which was actually searching for more common sightings of Barrel Jellyfish, seals and porpoises when the crew spotted a 'black blob' in the water.
Two crew members from the company, along with 12 passengers on the 1:30pm Oxwich Bay to Worm's Head tour, slowed down the boat when they thought they had spotted a shy porpoise, but upon closer inspection they were thrilled to actually see the rare turtle enjoying a spot of dinner.
A spokeswoman for Gower Coast Adventures said: "Two of my colleagues thought they'd seen a porpoise, which is usually what the wildlife tours are on the hunt for, but then got closer and said, oh my gosh, hang on, that is actually a leatherback turtle."
"Our skipper has been on the tours since they started 16 years ago and this is only the third time he's seen one so they are incredibly rare. The passengers went mad from what I hear, it was quite special. It's like a once in a lifetime thing."
"Leatherback turtles breathe on the surface but then go straight back under, but because the one they saw was eating a huge jellyfish he was hanging around for quite a while so they got a really good look."
The species are differentiated from other turtles by their carapace which is covered with a leathery skin instead of the bony shell present on other sea turtles.
Dolphin washes up on Swansea beach.
The sighting comes after a number of reports of aquatic creatures washing ashore this summer, including a short-beaked common dolphin stranded on a Swansea beach last week and hundreds of starfish-like creatures covering Aberavon beach earlier this month.
But Gower Coast Adventures confirmed that the turtle seemed happy and healthy in its natural habitat, enjoying a bite to eat.
