The continuing sagas of the Blue Heron Bridge

[BHB ScubaTroll]

that looks like the batray from California!!!
check out my photo here: http://www.rnrscuba.net/Calif_08/Catalina_Batray_081.jpg
I also have one on video, it is at the very end though, last 30 seconds: Scuba Diving Catalina - Aug 2008 on Vimeo

I thought batrays were Pacific only.... weird! Did it have a long tail or short? Did you see any barb? Batrays have a shorter tail and no barb.

edit: oops, i looked up batrays and they do have a barb, but it is up near the body base. Here are some website pics: California Department of Fish & Game, Marine Region

Cownose rays are similar to the bat ray, but bat rays are Pacific only and their bodies are a bit more rounded making them look even more like a bat

 

[DennisW]

Hi all,

I am new to the South Florida area. I would like to try the Blue Heron Bridge dive. I have been looking around but can't seem to find a sticky or link in the threads for basic information on the bridge.

Any ideas/help?

Thanks

Here is a good website with quite a bit of information. However, the tide information is 2 years old. Use the link at the bottom of Cootech's post for the current tide information. Blue Heron Bridge

 

[sportxlh]

Did it have a long tail or short? Did you see any barb? Batrays have a shorter tail and no barb.

very long tail in relation to the body: much like an spotted eagle ray

 

[sportxlh]

Hi all,

I am new to the South Florida area. I would like to try the Blue Heron Bridge dive. I have been looking around but can't seem to find a sticky or link in the threads for basic information on the bridge.

Any ideas/help?

Thanks

Blue Heron Bridge

the tide tool is not working correct: go to the noaa site

Tide Tables

 

[sportxlh]

Nice shots from everyone...

This is a Cownose Ray. You usually see them in large groups and from a distance

CoolTech: thanks for the ID on the ray!!

 

[sportxlh]

I'd love to go back to the bridge this weekend but unfortunately my buddies are likely not interested in going again until the water warms up.

djtimmy: I plan to dive the west side on Saturday, though it will be a fairly early dive. I plan to jump in the water at about 7:10 or 7:15. I also plan to move slowly so I can take photos. Send a PM if you are interested in joining.

 

[djtimmy77]

Thanks for the invite, super tempting but I already have plans for the morning. I am also used to going slow to help find stuff for my photog buddies who take all the pics that I post here, and we do the west side more often than not!

 

[deeper thoughts]

Thanks for the invite, super tempting but I already have plans for the morning. I am also used to going slow to help find stuff for my photog buddies who take all the pics that I post here, and we do the west side more often than not!

Can the East side still be dived, or did the construction stop it?

 

[livi120]

dove the west span today: did not see any other divers on that side of phil foster park. Water temp was 70 degrees: between the temp and the sun going down, cut my dive to only 80 minutes. Saw an interesting ray on my way back in, right under the west span. Almost looks like a spotted eagle ray but without the spots: maybe an immature youngster?? its 'wing span' was no larger than my two hands held together in the shape of a butterfly. Anyone have a clue as to what it really is????

This is definitely not a cownose ray. The head is all wrong. Ijust came back from sea world where i pet and fed cownose adults and saw pups up close, cownose do not have a pointed nose infact the front of their heads is very cleft. Unless spotted eagle rays are born without spots, I'm pretty sure that this is a rare Southern Eagle Ray (Myliobatis goodei) The lates Humann/Deloach ID software doesn't even have a picture of it just a sketch. Hey they may want your pic?!! Great find!

 

[jimw]

I googled "southern eagle ray" and ran into a Univ of Fl document that indicates that it could be a Bull Nosed Ray. If there is a picture where a dorsal fin may be seen--there are some ID possibilities in that document................good luck and please post it here.