Found an 4 ' eagle ray at the Invisibles site on our first dive (3/24/05). Folks at Wannadive where we rented tanks said he/she showed up 6 weeks ago and is now resident. We went back 4 days later and saw it again (picture attached if I can figure out how to do it; the shot includes a trunk fish that was buzzing the ray). Seems to usually be located in the sand at the edge of the coral at 30-35 feet where it feeds. Stay 10 feet away and watch it root like a hog in the sand. If you thrash around, it will leave. Also see many lettuce slugs in the coral at 30-40 feet.

Beautiful photo Bob. Welcome to Bonaire Talk.

Thanks for the pic Bob -- great shot.
The trunk fish is probably hanging around for a chance to nibble on whatever cannot fit into the eagle ray's mouth. Those crabs are messy to eat even for an eagle ray.

Mare

How very cool-such a beautiful creature at such a great dive spot. Thanks for sharing!

Great photo Bob! Welcome to the board!

Bon Bini! Bob, Loved your photo!

Thanks, folks.

We saw a spotted eagle ray going North on 2/24 at Atlantis. Maybe this is the same one!

WE spotted an eagle ray north of Andrea II. It also had a remora attached to it!!!
PS- wonderful shot!

Bob, we saw the same guy at the same spot about a week previous. Same behavior, if you kept still s/he would settle down right next to you. It's one of our favorite dive memories. Thanks for the reminder!

Great photo! Thanks for posting it for us! Deb

Welcome to BT, Agata/Alexander, always nice to see fellow NYers, and I LOVE it when people have positive first posts.

Hi Bob!

We saw one eagle ray at Margate Bay and saw two more at Tori's Reef last week. So cool!

Belinda

Belinda, are you back ALREADY???

Kelly,

The week FLEW by - we had the most awesome snorkeling this trip. I will be posting a trip report and pictures later after I have sorted through the 1000 or so pictures we took (I love my new digital camera!).

When do you leave for Bonaire Kelly?

Belinda

I visited the same Eagle Ray three different times in the past two weeks. Last Tuesday (4/05) as the dive boat was passing by to return from the morning dive, I asked the DM if we could stop at the mooring for "just a few minutes" so I could see if the ray was still there. I jumped in the water with my snorkel gear, put my face in, looked back up to the boat and excitedly shouted "He's here!!!". So then Megan jumped in and was finally able to see her first eagle ray. He's a beauty!

That Eagle Ray doesen't seem to mind divers and people snorkeling and he has been there quite a while. When I was there in early March my husband and I did a guided snorkel with Renee and we got to see him foriging in the sand for about fifteen minutes!!! We got some decent shots that I hope to post if I ever get to them! Renee was there a week ago and saw two there at the same time for about twenty minutes!!! How awesome is that!!!

After visiting my Eagle Ray "friend" on one of my shore visits to Invisibles, I also saw a Southern Sting Ray as I snorkeled back to shore. Big smiles on my face that day!!!

Linda,

Our last snorkel (April 2) at Tori's Reef we saw 2 eagle rays and a southern stingray - we too smiled all the way back to Carib!

Belinda