Watch a manta ray swim in the water right off Hallandale Beach: ‘So cool’
Jhordy Hiriart had quite an exciting marine show on Wednesday.
The local actor-singer-musician told the Miami Herald he was on his terrace overlooking a canal in the Three Islands area of Hallandale Beach when he saw the most amazing sight.
A giant manta ray right off shore, feeding and hanging around.
Hiriart went down to get a closer look and pulled out his camera phone.
Video shows the creature roll over, dive, and gracefully ascend, flapping with elegant, wing-like movements, as if it were performing a water ballet.
According to National Geographic, rays feed by scooping or sieving marine organisms using rows of tiny “gill plates” in their large, rectangular mouths. They are known to breach, like whales.
A spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration saw the video and said it was likely a manta ray due its curled, horn like features, the one difference between a manta and sting ray.
The Broward resident had seen the enormous fish a few times that day, but never before. As he approached, the ray carried on feeding and swimming.
“I think it likes people,” he told the Miami Herald of the harmless filter feeder. “So cool. I feel so lucky for seeing such an amazing creature that close”.
Other locals have reported similar sightings of marine creatures coming closer to shore, possibly due to fewer humans and boats in the water during the pandemic lockdown.
This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 5:20 PM.
