I have now seen three difference species of ray down at a Rapid Bay over the last few days.
This guy is a masked stingaree (
Trygonoptera personata) and although common to South Australian coastal waters was not actually recognised as a unique species until relatively recently, in fact, about the same time I learned to scuba dive.
When I had seen these on previous dives I had mistaken them for juveniles but this little guy is probably a fully grown individual and was happy to just lay there and watch as we watched back.
Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Day 677, Being Watched', 1/100s f/18 ISO320 100mm+20mmExt