Pacific Electric Ray in Puget Sound

[Dave_Hicks]

It's Six-Gill shark season in Puget Sound, and lots of divers hit the local shore dive "Redondo Beach" just south of Seattle for a rare glimpse of one. I went diving last night and found an even more rare and elusive creature, the Pacific Electric Ray. They are not generally seen in the PNW, so this was a real treat. These rays are documented to be about 4.6 feet (1.4m) long and this one was at least that if not a bit more. More impressively it was really thick, like a pitcher's mound.

 

[Nikon Z8 w/24-50mm, WWL-C, f7.1, 1/60s, iso500, Pair of Backscatter HF-1 strobes]

 

 

[Troporobo]

Wow, that is very cool.  I’ve never seen one.  Thanks for the pics. 

[Chris Ross]

Nice work, a cool looking fish, i guess you didn't test out it's electric capabilities?  We have numb rays around Sydney which can deliver quite a jolt if you step on them, they bury in sand and can zap divers who accidentality touch them.

[Davide DB]

1 hour ago, Chris Ross said:

Nice work, a cool looking fish, i guess you didn't test out it's electric capabilities?  We have numb rays around Sydney which can deliver quite a jolt if you step on them, they bury in sand and can zap divers who accidentality touch 

 

Do you have harmless animals in Australia? 😄

 

[humu9679]

Cool capture @Dave_Hicks

[Dave_Hicks]

9 hours ago, Chris Ross said:

Nice work, a cool looking fish, i guess you didn't test out it's electric capabilities?  We have numb rays around Sydney which can deliver quite a jolt if you step on them, they bury in sand and can zap divers who accidentality touch them.

I left that job to another guy. This ray was first seen a few days prior and the Diver touched it! Got shocked Real Good! More than once too. 

Edited August 10 by Dave_Hicks

[Chris Ross]

10 hours ago, Davide DB said:

 

Do you have harmless animals in Australia? 😄

 

We have some!

[bvanant]

Great shot Dave. We see them quite a bit at Farnsworth, a friend touched one (but only once). 

Bill