Divers are attempting to retrieve potentially hundreds of drones from the bottom of Melbourne's Yarra River after a technical malfunction during an aerial light show on Friday night.

Potentially hundreds of drones are resting on the bottom of the Yarra River after a mysterious technical malfunction on Friday night sent them plummeting into the water in Melbourne’s CBD.

The drones were to be part of a pre-game light show before the Matildas game against France at Docklands Stadium.