australian stingrays Page 5

Australian stingrays are the quiet introverts of the sea—flat, polite, and keener to avoid you than you are to avoid parallel parking.

Common locals include the short-tail stingray and smooth stingray, cruising bays and estuaries; the big units can be over 2 m wide and weigh well north of 100 kg.

They’re generally docile; most injuries happen when someone steps on one, so do the sandy “shuffle,” give a few metres of space, and resist the urge to play wildlife presenter.

If diving, stay low and behind, never block the exit, and leave feeding to, well, the stingray. Admire, don’t meddle—the ocean rewards good manners.