Manta Rays: The Oceans Gliders

Attila Kaszo · Issue 103, Jul/Aug 2018 · pp. 53–57

Products mentioned: Nikon D850, Nikon D800, Nikkor 24-70mm, Sigma 15mm

Lady Elliot Island is a coral cay almost on the edge of the Continental Shelf on the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef. The largest and nearest mainland town is Hervey Bay from which regional aeroplanes commute to the Island. Surrounded by a fringing coral reef, it’s location is a magnet for large oceanic visitors like Manta Rays and Whales, which feed on plankton rich water fed by upwellings from the East Australian Current. There are of course many other notable species there as well, such as Dolphins and Turtles, but the main draw card is the Manta Rays (Manta alfredi). Up close and personal, these rays are enormous, easily dwarfing the diver. Their wing span can extend to about 7mtrs, although the southern east population that frequent Lady Elliot Is., seem to average about 5mtrs across. They have the largest brain to body size ratio of any fish and can weigh in at over 1580kg.…