BajaNomad - Flying Mobulas in Los Berriles

Flying Mobulas in Los Berriles

EMAM - 3-27-2008 at 12:48 PM

We pulled into East Cape RV Resort yesterday (Best RV Park we;ve found so far in the Peninsula) and while checking in, the onwers were telling us about the jumping manta rays!

Being as my wife and I are so into photography, we headed down to the beach to see if we could witness this spectacle. One of the owners was down there tending to his boats, and pointed the large school out to us.

He then asked if we wanted to go out to the middle of the school in his dinghy! ARE YOU KIDDING!! Next thing you know, there are huge rays jumping all around us!

This is one of those things that I'll never forget as long as I live. Luckily we have some great images to prove it, or I doubt anyone from the States would believe such a story. I know I wouldnt have if I hadnt seen it with my own two eyes.

Full gallery can be seen Here

[Edited on 1-02-2008 by EMAM]

longlegsinlapaz - 3-27-2008 at 01:00 PM

Great pics, thanks! That would be an awesome experience to witness....but with caution....there was a news report within the past 1-2 weeks of a woman who was killed when a stingray jumped into a boat & landed right on her. Wise to remember that there can occasionally be danger in natures' beauty!

osoflojo - 3-27-2008 at 01:00 PM

You have got to be kidding, that is absolutely amazing.

[Edited on 3-27-2008 by osoflojo]

bajalera - 3-27-2008 at 01:21 PM

Those things must have hit the water with quite a splash. Thanks for the great pix!

Ken Bondy - 3-27-2008 at 01:44 PM

Magnificent EMAM!!! I've seen it many times but never got it on film. Your images are fabulous, especially #2 with the curved tail.
++Ken++

Diver - 3-27-2008 at 01:44 PM

A few years ago I was fishing off la Ventana and saw splashing in the water far ahead. I pulled in my lines and headed in that direction only to find a few hundred of those things jumping all over the place. I was told that this is to help rid themselves of parasites.
.

EMAM - 3-27-2008 at 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Bondy
Magnificent EMAM!!! I've seen it many times but never got it on film. Your images are fabulous, especially #2 with the curved tail.
++Ken++

Thanks Ken, that means alot after looking at your quality of images.

There are dozens of different stories as to why they jump, but which ever one is true, it sure does make for some beautiful photography!

Fred - 3-27-2008 at 02:03 PM

What is the cost of that RV park this year? Thanks, Fred

tripledigitken - 3-27-2008 at 02:04 PM

Fantastic shots!

EMAM - 3-27-2008 at 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fred
What is the cost of that RV park this year? Thanks, Fred

$25 per night, or $150 per week. Since it's the first one we;ve found with wireless throughout the entire park, 30amp service and grounds that could be in any landscape magazine, it's well worth the cost.

Plus the owners are both so nice and informative when it comes to doing things in the area. I'd say it's one of the best we've stayed in so far!

Fred - 3-27-2008 at 02:16 PM

Did that used to be called North Beach? About 2 miles outside of town.

Fred

EMAM - 3-27-2008 at 02:26 PM

I dont think so. This is only a block off the beach, and everything seems pretty new.

www.eastcaperv.com is their website. I know in Church's book, they say it is fairly new.

Fred - 3-27-2008 at 02:35 PM

EMAN......thanks for the info............Fred

wsdunc - 3-27-2008 at 02:48 PM

Great pictures, for every picture of jumping fish I get I probably have 10 of just a splash :biggrin:

The story about the lady that got killed in Fla. had the boat going 25 miles an hour. Having a ray hit you would be bad, but having one hit you while traveling at 25mph would be really bad, or fatal as the case may be. The report also indicated that the collision killed the ray :?:

Martyman - 3-27-2008 at 02:51 PM

I have a new screen saver!!!

BajaNomad - 3-27-2008 at 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Diver
A few years ago I was fishing off la Ventana and saw splashing in the water far ahead. I pulled in my lines and headed in that direction only to find a few hundred of those things jumping all over the place.

I've seen them do this in this same area frequently in the past (I don't remember there being "hundreds" though) - out around the point between the lighthouse and the abandoned hotel.

--
Doug

Ken Bondy - 3-27-2008 at 03:09 PM

Doug
I was diving with my wife on a bright, sunny day at San Francisquito years ago. We were at about 40 feet near the south point when everything got dark. We looked up to see a huge school of mobulas passing above us, just below the surface. The school extended beyond the limits of our visibility (probably 100 feet) in all directions, and took probably a minute to pass by. They were moving slowly and gracefully, all in the same direction. It was one of the most memorable and beautiful things I have ever seen underwater.
++Ken++

Skipjack Joe - 3-27-2008 at 03:54 PM

WOW! These are wonderful. One of these shots looks extraterrestrial (sp?). Thanks for sharing these with us. Your extraordinary experience is well conveyed in these images.

P.S. Looking at these images a second time made me realize how similar swimming is to flying. I've seen these flips for many years now. But they happen so fast that your eye never catches the wondrous beauty of it all as these pictures do.

[Edited on 3-27-2008 by Skipjack Joe]

ligui - 3-27-2008 at 04:21 PM

Wow and Wow , you must be a Nomad , to be in that spot at that time, Nice!!!!!

David K - 3-27-2008 at 04:56 PM

I hope Marv Sherrill sees these photos, because they would be excellent for next year's Baja Calendar! http://www.bajacalendar.com (or better yet, order yours from Tienda Baja Nomad if Doud stikll has some!

hookemup - 3-27-2008 at 05:27 PM

For some reason there have been thousnds of them jumpimg just off shore in Cabo Pulmo for about 3 or 4 weeks,day and night. They make enough racket to disturb the sleep of some of the beach folks. There have also been hundreds of sharks shadowing them. Mexican TV news choppers were filming for a couple of days about 2 weeks ago. They are ( the rays) close eough to see from our deck and they just don,t seem to quit.

Roberto - 3-27-2008 at 06:03 PM

Great shots! I've seen these many times driving to Punta Pescadero from Los Barriles. How big do you figure these rays were?

DianaT - 3-27-2008 at 06:14 PM

I have NEVER seen anything like that---how fantastic, and your photos are just WONDERFUL.

We both would just LOVE to see that as long as then don't head for our boat.

Thanks for sharing those great photos--don't know why, but the third one is my favorite----now I need to look at Ken's underwater shots.

John and Diane

[Edited on 3-28-2008 by jdtrotter]

BornFisher - 3-27-2008 at 06:48 PM

I was down @ Pulmo 4 weeks or so ago and like Hookemup says, there were miles of them. It sounded like popcorn.
And the East Cape RV is great!! Even a hot tub!!
GREAT pics., thanks!!

David K - 3-28-2008 at 05:58 PM

I showed EMAM's photos to Hugh and Carol, and Graham and Bonni, and others at Discover Baja, last night... They have never seen such great photos of the manta 'in flight!'...

EMAM - 3-28-2008 at 08:41 PM

Thanks everyone for the comments on the photos. We've gone out for two days straight now watching these mobulas jump. Like someone else said, they just dont seem to quit.

I'd say they are about 2 to 4 foot in wing span, and some get easily 6 feet out of the water!! Some do one flip in the air, and one today did multiple flips till it smacked the water with a large thud!

We went out with Congo's Sport Fishing Tours today to whale watch and take a tour of the coast and passed over a few schools of rays that were probably a few thousand thick

Imagine passing over a school that is about 100 feet wide and about 100 yards long, and there were multiple schools like this. It's just jaw dropping. We also got some amazing shots of Humpback Whales breaching out of the water about 10 feet in the air.

After the past few days here, the wife says we've now extended our stay for another few weeks to maybe a month :spingrin:

I'm lovin this Baja Coast for all it's beauty!!

DianaT - 3-28-2008 at 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EMAM
Thanks everyone for the comments on the photos. We've gone out for two days straight now watching these mobulas jump. Like someone else said, they just dont seem to quit.

I'd say they are about 2 to 4 foot in wing span, and some get easily 6 feet out of the water!! Some do one flip in the air, and one today did multiple flips till it smacked the water with a large thud!

We went out with Congo's Sport Fishing Tours today to whale watch and take a tour of the coast and passed over a few schools of rays that were probably a few thousand thick

I'm lovin this Baja Coast for all it's beauty!!

What a great experience.

Easy to extend the stay in Baja, difficult to leave.

Diane

Iflyfish - 1-26-2011 at 01:27 AM

Love the photo's.
If you could fly wouldn't you?
I had the great pleasure of watching a doe emerge from the woods and flick her hoof into the edge of the lake I was fishing. She then slowly entered the water and commenced to dance! She pranced and danced for a while and then gracefully exited the water and retreated into the woods.
The parasite idea is a good one, there are lots of them that cling to sea creatures, however looking at the pictures it looks like a lot of fun to me!

IwouldliketoflywhenIfish

These photos are exquisite! Thank you.

Mulegena - 1-26-2011 at 01:41 AM

"One picture says a thousand words" I've heard say.

Q: Why do rays jump?

A: Because they can.

We mere humans speculate, pontificate, may argue-ate,
but sometimes all we really need to do is marvel at the gifts, the wonderful gifts that life shares.

24baja - 1-26-2011 at 01:49 AM

Fantastic pics, what a blessing you had this day!

captkw - 1-26-2011 at 05:00 AM

nice pics,nothing new,been watching that show since 78

Eli - 1-26-2011 at 06:43 AM

Your fotos induce awe, just beautiful.

grace59 - 1-26-2011 at 07:23 AM

Wow, EMAM! What a wonderous thing to see! You were so lucky to be there at just the right time! Such beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing! It was something nice to see first thing in the morning.

EMAM - 1-26-2011 at 08:20 AM

Thanks for the compliments everyone.

This was posted over two years ago and I still have total awe in some of these photos.

Of everything we've done in our travels, these photos have probably drawn the most amazement. Everyone who see's them stops and asks questions.

Most trying to argue with me saying that we've somehow Photoshopped them. So for those who have seen it or been seeing it since '78 enjoy a beauty most will only dream about. :biggrin:

captkw - 1-26-2011 at 08:40 AM

awsome pic's,but it's hard to beat live,hearing that SPAT!! belly flop,heard em hit rather hard at times and have had a single,out nowhere next to the boat..talk about scrarry funny,give a guy a heart attack :lol:

Skeet/Loreto - 1-26-2011 at 09:23 AM

One moring while headed North with Alaylo Murillo standing in the Panga with his hand on the Stick and Thottle Control was Hit by a small Ray and Knocked out of the Panga.

In 1968 while staying at the Rancho Bueno vista I was awakened by the sound of many "Plop, Plop"S, went out and saw Hundreds of small Rays jumping all around the Bay in Front of the Rancho. They were only about 5 to 10 Lb.