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These fish may be just an inch or so long - but when a million of them swim as one they are a force to be reckoned with.

Silverside minnows - which are so small several could fit in the palm of your hand at once - gather just once a year to spawn off the coast of Key Largo, Florida.

Underwater photographer John Chapa, 41, captured the moment the shoal of fish swarmed around a group of divers in aptly named Minnow Caves in the sunshine state.

Diver Adriana Camargo swims with a shoal of fish in Key Largo, Florida, which are so small several could fit in the palm of your hand at once

Sebastian Otero swims with silverside minnows; these fish may be just an inch long - but when a million of them swim as one they are a force to be reckoned with

Fernando Castro gets up close and personal to the minnows which gather just once a year to spawn off the coast of Key Largo, Florida

In some images the stunning view of the coral reef behind the swimmers are obscured by the small critters - which number nearly a million.

The caves are just 20ft underwater and draw vast numbers of these fish once a year.

John, from Miami, said large grouper and nurse sharks sometimes interrupt the tranquil scene for a feeding frenzy.

Adriana Camargo seen by the coral reef where the caves are just 20ft underwater and draw vast numbers of these fish once a year

Sebastian Oero swims with a shoal of fish and John Chapa, 41, captured the moment with some stunning photography

He said: 'In some cases we've seen grouper so fat and full they lay on the bottom and can't move so they are easy to approach and see up close.'

Luckily for this group of divers there were no predators to interrupt their underwater shoot.

He added: 'When the glass minnows spawn in the summer it is certainly a sight to see.

'It's the only time you're going to see that many minnows in one place. 

Fernando Castro visited the Minnow Caves in the sunshine state to see what really goes on when the fish come out to play

Luckily for this group of divers and the gentle minnows, there were no predators to interrupt their underwater shoot