{"id":328056,"date":"2024-05-12T12:09:13","date_gmt":"2024-05-12T10:09:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=328056"},"modified":"2024-05-12T12:09:16","modified_gmt":"2024-05-12T10:09:16","slug":"swimming-with-a-rare-giant-sting-ray-yongala-6-may-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=328056","title":{"rendered":"Swimming with a Rare Giant Sting Ray \u2014 Yongala, 6 May 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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From Jennifer Marohasy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By\u00a0jennifer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The stout tail of the Megatrygon microps, that swung above me Monday morning. \u00a0And then there is the longer tail from one of coachwhip rays catching a ride on top of it. \u00a0 Photograph by Jennifer Marohasy, May 6, 2024. Yongala wreck at 18 metres.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I always look for an animal\u2019s eyes, to get a sense of the situation.  But this ray, it has tiny eyes, about the size of sultanas!   I could only sense that it was curious, and that it meant us no harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perched above it were three much smaller coachwhip rays, and they were having trouble keeping their balance as this smalleyed ray, this rare and elusive\u00a0Megatrygon microps\u00a0<\/em>swam away, only to circle back. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It was fun just watching the coachwhips slip and slide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A stingray\u2019s venom is not necessarily fatal, but it is apparently excruciatingly painful.  The venom is composed of the enzymes 5-nucleotidase and phosphodiesterase and a neurotransmitter that causes muscles to contract.    The most destructive part of the sting mechanism, more dangerous than the venom, are the barbs on the spine. The sharp tip of the sting will enter a person smoothly, but its exit is roughly equivalent to backing up over blades.  Pulling the spike out of a human\u2019s chest or abdomen can apparently be enough to cause death from the massive tearing of tissue that results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Megatrygon microps<\/em> is the largest species of stingray in the world with a width of 2 metres and some.   But I felt calm in its presence, and I also wanted to get closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four of us, Thomas, Jessica and Alyson, had jumped in some 15 minutes earlier off the MV SeaEsta for a second dive that morning, on Monday 6th<\/sup> May.    It can be difficult \u2013 diving the Yongala. There was a 2-metre swell forecast, but we jump into something less than that.   \u2018A bit rollie,\u2019 was how first mate Kerrie described it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My objective was to just get in and get down the 18 metres to the wreck and hopefully make it the entire length \u2013 to swim the entire top of the wreck, the entire length of the Yongala without running out of air.   If I got to the other end with 120 bars, I would be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We got there, to the stern and did an air check.  My three buddies and I, we each still had at least 120 bars.   Whoo hoo!   And the current would take us back to the bow, from where we would make our ascent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was feeling happy. Relaxed.  I could see a giant groper in the distance, purple soft corals and golden fish covered the top of the wreck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then it appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It hovered and then swung around.\u00a0 Moved away and then returned.\u00a0\u00a0 It swung its tail over my head, and I saw the barbs up close.\u00a0 \u00a0Jessica filmed much of the encouter, with her GoPro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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