Quick videos of an Electric Ray and Abalone

[miket]

Went diving at Catalina Island, California yesterday. Shot some cool video I thought I would share.

First is a cool video of a Pacific Electric Ray - dont touch or ... ZAP!


- Click for video -

I also got a video of an Abalone munching some Kelp I offered it.


- Click for video -

A gallery of frame grabs from yesterday's trip can be found - here -.

Still editing the rest of the day's shots. Some real nice kelp shots, the vis was low but it added a neat effect to the sunlight peeking thru caverns in the reef and thru the kelp canopy. Man, I love diving here in SoCal.

Cheers,
MikeT[/LEFT]

 

[H2Andy]

wow, cool videos

although the words "quick video" and "abalone" don't really go together

 

[miket]

I guess you are right, I was thinking of speeding it up 3x or so, it looks freaky.

 

[Kray_Z]

lol that would be weird... the electric ray... does it hurt(lol would u know?)

 

[miket]

I think it would hurt like hell, I read a big one could knock you cold, at 100 feet that could be a bit dangerous. This one was smaller, but I still kept my distance. I have heard of divers feeling the electricity around the animal, but I don't think I threatened this one to defend itself. They zap prey then eat them, it's pretty cool.

lol that would be weird... the electric ray... does it hurt(lol would u know?)

 

[Kray_Z]

lol that is pretty cool... i could imagine forgetting where it's at and it brushes up against you. ZAP! Hmm still cool though.

 

[drbill]

Where were you diving off Catalina? The electric rays have been in the shallows for some time, probably feeding on the squid that have been mating in a bumper year here.

While we were doing some filming with the Cousteaus on Alcyone in 1986, one of the divers (Clay) got too close to an electric ray. It gave him such a jolt that he had to stay out of the water for a while. I've never (yet) had a problem with them, probably because I appear to be very unthreatening to most fish.

 

[miket]

This was taken at Italian Gardens in about 80-90 feet of water over the sloping sand and flat kelp. There were some individual squid egg cases around where I spotted him.

Where were you diving off Catalina? The electric rays have been in the shallows for some time, probably feeding on the squid that have been mating in a bumper year here.

 

[Kray_Z]

Wow, thats a pretty cool safety device for a fish. . Dont know why but, this reminds me of a time i was doing a little demolition in my room(breaking down a wall to expand) and i smashed the wall in enough to take out the electrical box(had the circuit breaker off to my room) only to find out later that my lights and every other plug in the room was not on the same one as the plug i was about to unsrew(wires from the back). Luckily i had my shopvac plugged in and thought... hmm better safe than sorry and flipped the switch. scared the crap out of me when i started right up. Didn't get shocked but it was a close call. :14:

 

[Tollie]

Wow, really nice short vids. Load up easily. I have never seen the electric ray nor an Abalone at work.

Great transitions... they both tell a nice story.