A diver found an ‘alien slinky-like’ squid egg - as long as a human leg.

Andrea Nemeth was diving off Norman Reef, Queensland, Australia, on January 12 when she spotted the ghostly figure floating about 10m underwater.

Creepy footage shows the one-metre-long Diamond back squid egg mass being buffeted by the current.

Getting a closer look, the 23-year-old was able to show the inside ridges of the structure that made it look like the classic children’s toy, a slinky.

Andrea, originally from Austria, said: “At first I felt like I had just encountered an alien. It was such a dark and gloomy day in the water and this thing just appeared in front of me, spiralling in the current.

“I'd never seen anything like it before. I only found out later it's a Diamond back squid egg mass.

“I was working as an underwater photographer and dive instructor on one of the day boats in Cairns.

“I first spotted it drifting at around 10m depth. It quickly got taken by the current to about 15m and that was the last time I saw it.

“It was a bit longer than a metre in length and around 15-20cm in diameter. I'd compare it to the size of an adult’s leg.

“I have been diving since I was 11 years old, I used to dive in freshwater lakes back home. My dad introduced me to diving and it has been my passion ever since.”