Sunrise is one of my favourite times to paddle – and sunset, and midday, and morning, and afternoon, well this time was particularly special. I was 50m out from shore about to head past the break when a couple of metres ahead I saw a large shadow. At first thought I wandered whether it was seaweed, but than it turned and shot faster towards me. Only half a meter under the water this beautiful stingray was at least a couple of meters wide and the sting making it seem even longer. Before I could get my paddle in to about face, it was gone – off into the big blue yonder.
As it happened so quick I can’t be certain what sort it was. He was all black and large. I’m tempted to say Manta Ray – but I can’t be certain. I’ve also seen this sort down at Portsea. I have seen a smaller ray a number of times which I think is a ‘eastern shovel-nose stingray’. Other species common to the Melbourne bay are ’sparsely spotted and spiny gurnard.
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