I was shocked to hear how this poor fellow met his end. I always thought that sting rays wouldn't sting someone unless provoked and even then I asssumed that they had to use the leverage of the bottom to hit. And, well, I just figured if you didn't step on one, you could get real close.
I have seen some huge ones nestled in the sand at St. Teresa. I got up close and personal with one a couple years ago, diving off Palm Beach. My dive buddy told me we could "pet" the rays, and at 60 feet or so I think, on a wrecked barge, we saw a couple big ones swimming along like birds slowy flapping wings. She sped up to brush her hand on the passing wing, so of course I did too. No problemo!
Last December, I dove off of Belize on a dawn dive. We went in about 5 AM, and dove through the sunrise. This way, you see things, critters, that are out then but not during the day. And of course, you see the nocturnal behavior of all the critters you see. So, we saw this little fella:
So, now we know that a stingray can kill you. I wish I knew more of what he was doing when it happened.
I have clipped a few news reports, but I am not giving the web sites because they are all sketchy now:
[quote]rwin was at Batt Reef, off the remote coast of northeastern Queensland state, shooting a segment for a series called “Ocean’s Deadliestâ€