"In a shallow reef close to New Zealand's east coast shore, a group of 30 people wearing khaki overalls and boots huddle together like a crescent moon, waiting for the stars of the show to arrive. They don't have to wait long. Six eagle rays and short-tailed stingrays some weighing over 300kg - glide through the green waters to the group where they brush up against legs and, with the force of a vacuum-cleaner, slurp fish off submerged hands."
"Stingrays are like big sea puppy pancakes, says Bella, 19, who in January joined New Zealand's only wild stingray experience, run by Dive Tatapouri near Gisborne. They were all so loving to the people and the staff, they just wanted pats and cuddles, she says. It was the coolest thing I've ever seen. Bella, who wished to give her first name only, said interacting with the species was unreal and had changed her perspective on the creatures."
In a shallow reef off New Zealand's east coast, groups don khaki overalls to encounter wild stingrays up close. Six eagle rays and short-tailed stingrays, some exceeding 300kg, glide through green waters, brushing legs and slurping fish from submerged hands. Guides cannot predict which stingrays will appear on reef ecology tours near Gisborne. A 19-year-old participant described the animals as affectionate and found the encounter breathtaking and perspective-changing. New Zealand hosts three coastal stingray species that are abundant along harbours and coastlines, and few locations worldwide permit safe, natural interactions. Dive Tatapouri has run stingray experiences for over 20 years.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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