July 28, Swimming with Sting Rays, Moorea Lagoon
Shelby had heard that there was a spot in the lagoon just west of our resort where rays are fed and could be petted. Shelby bought some mackerel in a tin and placed them in a perforated plastic soda bottle to chum the water. We took kayaks and paddled about 1/2 mile to the spot where we were told we could find them. Only one other boat was there. As soon as we got into the water and started chuming, a dozen rays and sharks immediately surounded us. We quickly put the chum back in the kayak!
This ray {I think} was attracted to David. Pretty intensely. He butted David in the small of the back whenever David stopped petting him! Fatal attraction.... - Cathy
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Cathy received a vicious stingray bite...her painkiller is to the right in the picture.
I was just barely hanging on... get it?! - Cathy
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Dozens - and I do mean DOZENS - of black-tipped reef sharks joined us. We returned the chum bottle to the kayaks at this point. - Cathy
