A manta ray has stunned divers with a clear plea for help after fish hooks embedded themselves under her eye.

The 3m-wide manta - affectionately known as Freckles - has been cruising the rich Ningaloo Reef throughout her long 30-year life, transfixing hundreds of visitors in that time.

But recently, something was very wrong.

Jake Wilton, a 28-year-old underwater photographer who guides tourists around the bay, spotted her acting in a way he’d never seen before.

The animal rolled over and hung still in the water, prompting Mr Wilton to get in for a closer look.

As he approached, Freckles unrolled her lobe - one of the two protrusions on either side of her head - allowing him to see the problem.

Camera Icon The animal rolled over and hung still in the water, prompting Mr Wilton to get in for a closer look.. Credit: Monty Halls

Three fish hooks were embedded under the animal’s eye.

“She had to unroll her lobe to show me where the hooks were embedded,” Mr Wilton said.

“She knew exactly what was going on. She had to show me, give me access. It’s’ incredible for an animal to work that out so quickly.”

In the following minutes, Mr Wilton made 12 dives down 5m of water to try and free the distressed Freckles.

I’m often guiding snorkellers in the area and it’s as if she recognised me and was trusting me to help her,” he said.

A British marine biologist swimming with the party said the species was known for both its cognitive and emotional intelligence.

“Mantas are well known for having the highest cognitive, emotional and mental functions of any of the sharks and rays,” he said.

“Research suggests they may have near-mammalian levels of intelligence and empathy. When you have eye contact with them, they stay with you. They’re very curious, they build relationships.”