- Nikole Ordway was diving off the Florida coast when the fish swam to her
- She tickled its chin before they both pulled their best pouts for the camera
- Photographer Wayne Macwilliams captured the moment at an artificial reef
This the extraordinary moment a Goliath grouper swam up to a diver and pecked her on the lips as she puckered up for a kiss.
Photographer Wayne Macwilliams was diving off Boynton Beach in Florida, USA, when he captured the brief underwater romance.
Fellow diver Nikole Ordway swam right up to the grouper and tickled its chin before turning towards the fish as they both pulled their best pouts for the camera.
Nikole Ordway was diving off the Florida coast when the fish swam to her and they both puckered up for a kiss
The moment was brief but it was captured by photographer Wayne Macwilliams before the fish swam away
Ordway, nicknamed the 'Goliath Whisperer', had tickled the fish's chin moments before posing for the shot
Macwilliams from Miami, said he and Ordway often went diving in this same spot.
He's even nicknamed Ordway the 'Goliath Whisperer'.
The 58-year-old photographer said: 'We dive a wreck called the MV Castor, which was sunk as an artificial reef in 2001. It is a popular gathering spot for the Goliath grouper.'
He added: 'It is common to see 30, 40 or more during any given dive during this period. A couple of these Goliath groupers seek out attention and swim right up to you before you even reach the wreck.
'They will swim up the descent line to greet you. If the diver is a bit taken back or intimidated and tries to ignore that grouper, it will either find someone else that is attentive or circle in behind divers and shadow them without them even knowing it.
Ordway (pictured) and Macwilliams had been on regular dives together. On this occasion, they were exploring a wreck called the MV Castor. Above, she holds different sea turtles
'I find this behaviour quite entertaining and engaging.'
The photographer captured the romantic moment during a dive last year.
He recalled: 'To get the full diver and that huge fish all in frame I needed to move back.
'Nikole on the other hand, was able to tickle its chin, remove her mouthpiece and allow the Goliath to come to her and give her a kiss.
'There are several Goliaths at other sites that will hold their ground or swim very close but not to that degree of closeness.
'I sure hope I'll get to experience it again, I will make it a goal to put myself in the position to hopefully experience this opportunity for years to come.'
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