eagle rays

[diverokc]

I've been seeing lots of pics of eagle rays already popping up. Have they started gathering in one area yet as in the past or are they still scattered out? I will be there for 3 weeks in January and love seeing sqauadrons of
eagle rays.

 

[gopbroek]

I came back a couple days ago and did 22 dives over 9 days (from Chunchakab to Paradise) and only saw about 4 or 5 in the park and only singleton's. The current has been unusually slow which allows for more particulates in the water which hampers visability a little, so there may of been more out there that I just didn't see. I did not dive North where they often congregate.

 

[JFS]

Nothing much to report from the north. I dive there 4x a week. probably going to be mid late January again before we start seeing big groups. Currents are slow too which in my experience, the eagle rays tend not to show up.

 

[MikeRiley]

do they ever head south? I've never seen one and would love to!

 

[gopbroek]

do they ever head south? I've never seen one and would love to!

I am assuming you are refering to the south end of Cozumel. During the winter months they are often seen on the southern dive sites within the park. Usually they are either singletons or small groups but last year a group of 7-9 seem to hang around the bottom end of Punta Sur Cathedrals for several months.

 

[macado]

do they ever head south? I've never seen one and would love to!

You've got a good chance of seeing one on your trip

Pretty common to see small groups of 1-4 eagle rays in southern sites this time of year though usually better chance of spotting them mid to late January but it depends on currents like others said. Larger groups are usually seen up north with stronger currents in places like Cantarel (Eagle Ray Wall).

A couple videos from around this time from last winter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS12aNIASiU
[video=youtube;FS12aNIASiU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS12aNIASiU[/video]


[video=youtube;f8MKgqv-0KY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8MKgqv-0KY[/video]

 

[gopbroek]

OK here is a chance for my non diver specific side rant concerning Eagle Rays: Do not chase the Eagle rays with your Go Pro, you will appear as a sea monster to them and they will swim away. They really are better swimmers than you and you will not catch them but you may catch hell from your fellow divers on the surface for chasing them off. If you remain motionless you have a much better chance of close shots and an absolutely memorable encounter with some of the most beautiful creatures in the sea.

You will note that both of the above excellent videos appear to be done from a stationary or drifting postion

 

[macado]

OK here is a chance for my non diver specific side rant concerning Eagle Rays: Do not chase the Eagle rays with your Go Pro, you will appear as a sea monster to them and they will swim away. They really are better swimmers than you and you will not catch them but you may catch hell from your fellow divers on the surface for chasing them off. If you remain motionless you have a much better chance of close shots and an absolutely memorable encounter with some of the most beautiful creatures in the sea.

You will note that both of the above excellent videos appear to be done from a stationary or drifting postion

Excellent advice especially for up north. Stay put and do not chase them! What my 2nd video does not show is there was a much larger group of Eagle Rays that was chased off by some diver (idiot) in another group. We didn't get the opportunity film them because he chased them away into blue water.

 

[jake11]

I came back a couple days ago and did 22 dives over 9 days (from Chunchakab to Paradise) and only saw about 4 or 5 in the park and only singleton's. The current has been unusually slow which allows for more particulates in the water which hampers visability a little, so there may of been more out there that I just didn't see. I did not dive North where they often congregate.

22 dives!!!! I am as green as the sea turtles with envy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cpichette]

Been diving all week. Have seen spotted eagle rays at south sites sporadically, generally singles, including at Punta Sur Sur and Columbia Deep. Saw a group of 4, but it was early in the week and now I can't remember what site it was at. Probably Palancar Caves.