Fiddler rays, stingrays and eagle rays
Photo: malcolmnobbs.com
What to look for
- Eastern fiddler ray: a guitar-shaped ray with a pattern of dark-edged bands on its back, often half-buried in sand.
- Smooth stingray: a large grey ray, sometimes more than 2 metres across, resting on the sand or cruising slowly.
- Southern eagle ray: a pointed-winged ray that “flies” over the bottom and digs in the sand for food.
Diving with them
Rays aren’t aggressive, but stingrays have a barb in the tail for defence. Approach from the side rather than above, never block their way out, and don’t touch.
Where to see it
- Shore dive · Clovelly Gordon’s BayMax depth 14 m.
- Shore dive · La Perouse Bare IslandMax depth 20 m.
- Shore dive · Shellharbour Bushrangers BayMax depth 18 m.
- Shore dive · Cabbage Tree Bay Fairy BowerMax depth 10 m.
- Shore dive · Freshwater FreshwaterMax depth 20 m.
- Boat dive · South Maroubra Magic PointMax depth 23 m.
- Shore dive · Kurnell The MonumentMax depth 12 m.
