Startled by creatures of the sea...

[Hawkeye31]

This aint much compared to what others see, but I was scared sh%tless today at least a half dozen times by sting rays gliding by over my head while I was laying motionless on the bottom. At the end of my dive id glide toward the surface and nearly collide with these underwater birds. After the first encounter I tried to keep a wider field of view on my ascent, but the rays kept on approaching from where I wasnt looking. Each time it happened both the ray and me would be so startled that it would flee and my heart would race. I know these rays (not sure what kind they are) have barbed tails for a reason, do you think a startled sting ray would barb a diver?

Other stories to share?

Adam

 

[icarus pacific]

rays of light...

If you were in the So Cal area, they were probably bat rays and are harmless, unless you shove your hand in their mouth and hit'em on the back of their head with a hammer, miss and hit yourself. rofl I would have things like this occur when seemingly a school or flock of these things would come and investigate my buubles and the stuff I was strring up when collecting urchins.

Look at them as pesky and fun birds. They won't and can't hurt, but will only add to your experience.

sven

 

[Hawkeye31]

Thanks for the response.
I thought they were harmless, but wasnt sure. I had thought that the rays that had tails had them for use as defense. A buddy of mine was stung by a similar creature when he stepped on it, and I guess Ive been kinda cautious around them ever since.
Later,
Adam

 

[Griff]

Speaking of Rays

Does anyone know if electric rays pose any threat to divers? I've heard that they can stun, but not kill, but at the end of your breathhold, 15m down, stun could = kill.
twice i have been looking into dark caves with sandy floors, only to wake up the sleeping electric ray. they just flapped, stirring up the sand. gave me the fright of my life. the thing that bothers me about electric rays is that they dont flee, like stingrays tend to. they just flap and stay put. makes me wonder if they know something that i dont.
Mark

 

[Abriapnea]

I got zapped by one while freediving for bugs on the North Coast .It came as a bit of a shock ,but otherwise I was ok .

 

[icarus pacific]

Re: Speaking of Rays

Originally posted by Griff
makes me wonder if they know something that i dont.
Mark QUOTE]

Count on it. :hmm
To get nailed by a electric ray, you're going to have to be in contact with it, as in you find yourself laying on it. Then maybe you'd get popped, otherwise you'r OK. The amount of juice they can put out will be irritating and scare you more than do you in, as when they wrap around and smother there prey, often the lobsters you're after.

sven