Most people won’t catch a glimpse of a critically endangered ornate eagle ray (Aetomylaeus vespertilio) in their lifetime but Oliver Richardson, a dive instructor and skipper at Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort in Australia, has had several opportunities to spend time with these enigmatic animals.
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“With fewer than 60 sightings worldwide, the ornate eagle ray is becoming a more frequent visitor here,” says Lady Elliot Island on Instagram. There were over 30 recorded sightings of the species in 2024, with the rays more likely to be seen during the summer months.
Capturing footage of these huge rays – which can grow to nearly four metres long and have intricate patterns of stripes and speckles across their disc – is challenging. But not because they move too quickly for the photographer to keep up.
“The moment you see one emerging from the distance, your heart starts to race. You really have to try to calm yourself, catch your breath, so you can dive down to film them with a steady hand,” says Richardson. “However, they are incredibly calm animals who will happily share the water with you, as long as you swim slowly and let them approach you.”
The rays’ spot patterns can be used to identify them – much like a human fingerprint – and people can help to protect them by reporting any sightings to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park’s Eye on the Reef programme.
“Every ray has its own unique pattern, much like the manta rays we observe, and over time, you begin to recognise individual rays by these distinctive markings,” says Richardson. His fascination with the species was ignited in 2021 when he encountered his first ornate eagle ray – a female known as Hatchie. He’s seen her three times since then and hopes she might have someone else with her next time they meet.
“Recently, she was seen at the island looking pregnant, which is incredibly exciting,” he says. “Now, I’m always on the lookout for baby ornates every time I’m in the water.”
Credit: Oliver Richardson, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
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