Bluespotted Stingray

The bluespotted stingray or ribbon tail ray is another of the many fish that Koh Tao diving has to offer.  They can be found at the shallower dive sites all around the island, normally hiding under rocks or corals during the day.  Divers on their open water course, try divers or fun divers can find them if you look carefully.

Description

You can easily identify them by their striking color pattern of many electric blue spots on yellowish/brown skin.  With a pair of blue stripes on the tail, hence the name ribbon tail.  The body is mostly smooth with an oval pectoral fin disc, large protruding eyes, and a relatively short and thick tail with ribbon stripes which has a spike for defense.  They swim away rather than put up a fight though so no need to be scared, just be cautious so they do not swim away.  You can find out more about identifying fish by studying this course online before you come diving on Koh Tao.  There are many online ecology courses now available and by using the MySSI app you can study anywhere.

Where Can You Find Bluespotted Stingrays?

This species is common throughout the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans in coral reef habitats like the dive sites around Koh Tao.  Its scientific name is taeniura lymma.  You can often see them at Twins or White Rock dive sites for example in certain overhangs but are shy and will quickly move away if they feel disturbed.  These dive sites are often visited during the open water course other dive sites are Mango Bay, Hin Wong and Sairee Reef.  You can see them while snorkeling too, but seeing them while diving is much better.  I think I am biased though!

What Do The Bluespotted Stingray Do?

They are normally active at night, hunting for their prey of crabs, shrimps, and worms, using their “wings” to stir the sand up and find their food.  If you are using a torch on a night dive their eyes reflect yellow, like a cat.  In the daytime, they bury themselves in the sand or hide under overhangs or rocks.  We do night dives as part of the Advanced course, but if you have that already then you can join for a night dive just for fun! They reproduce via eggs that grow inside the mother’s body for a period of four months to a year  Live rays are born shortly after hatching inside the mother but I’ve only seen one small or baby one.

What Next For Your Diving On Koh Tao?

Koh Tao Diving Courses

What Other Scuba Certifications Can I Get On Koh Tao?

Here is a list of some of the specialty diving courses we do on Koh Tao.  Hit the links to find out more these courses.

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