Hey guys,
Today, in my last post about the Maldives, I would like to tell you about ray feeding in the Maldives, more specifically at Reethi Beach.
A feeding place that the stingrays remember
The ray feeding takes place twice a day, at 6am and 6pm. Very easy to remember, isn't it;). Feeding in the morning was out of the question for us on holiday, so there was still the evening. Before dinner, we quickly went to the feeding. The feeding always takes place at the same place, near the Watersports Centre. The place for the feeding is right next to the jetty. From above you have an even better view of the rays, which swim very close to the sand. The water here is very clear and shallow.
Before the feeding a few minutes before, the first visitors gather here and secure good places on the jetty;) For our second feeding, we remembered to come a little earlier so that we could take a few photos without other people but with the rays. The rays are often found here even during the day and with a bit of luck you can also see a few small reef sharks here. This is because the animals remember well the place where they were last fed. Many return here minutes before and swim up and down the spot looking for fish food. In fact, they are not "fish" in the sense that the rays are fed, but octopus and shellfish.
Very shy animals when it is not about eating
For the feeding itself, a barrier is set up directly in front of the water on the beach so that the guests do not come too close during the feeding. Most of them are on the jetty anyway. Then one of the hotel employees comes with a bucket full of small fish and feeds the rays. I'm impressed with how little scared he is. The manta rays we snorkeled with also very rarely attack people, but at least they are not poisonous. These rays here are already. When they are aggressive, their tail becomes very dangerous to humans. Okay, admittedly, there is no need to get angry while feeding. But can I think of rays ?! In any case, I did not expect how easy it would be to feed the rays. When feeding, the rays are actually "pushed" the food directly into their mouths. To be one of the lucky ones, they sit on his feet.
What I actually wouldn't have thought: When it's not about food, rays are very shy animals. I see a parallel between me and the rays haha. Also, if you don't provoke or anger them, they are neither aggressive nor aggressive. They only kick their tails when they sense danger. The poison sting is provided with a barb on this. Beach strollers should be particularly vigilant: they like to dig stingrays in the sand to catch their prey. So it's easy to miss the rays.
I think it's great that the stingrays live free and that feeding doesn't take place in a tank.
For feeding, the rays come to the beach from a depth of up to 30 to 40 meters. Because that's where their real living space is.
Sure, this is not the natural form of food intake. Nevertheless, feeding the animals does not harm them, it does not make them dependent.
Corals are animals too
What I learned during my stay in the Maldives: Corals are now part of the animal world. And that's right. The warm water current, which is spreading more and more, warms the sea temperature so much that the corals bleach more and more. The situation is particularly dramatic in the Maldives, where up to 90 percent of the corals have died. And I have to admit, that is noticeable when snorkeling. As much as the underwater world was beautiful, there were very few colored corals left. Some reefs regenerate after a while. But this is not always possible. Because only a few coral species can repopulate the dead coral skeletons.
I hope you enjoyed the post and learned something new about the Maldives and its marine life and wildlife. I always find such information very interesting and some of it sticks in my mind very strongly. Especially when you are there yourself. What do you say ? Have you ever been to the Maldives? How did you like it too? And have you ever seen a ray feeding? Feel free to write your feedback in the comments, I'm looking forward to it. Until next time!
Incredible photos! It all looks so fresh and clean... but the waters, even though they are calm, seem to have some dangers in the life of living forms!
How safe is it to bathe on those waters?
yes that's true, it sometimes seems that way, but I would say it's relatively safe to swim there. At the house reef you should swim in pairs because there is a stronger current and from time to time you will see rays and sharks but they are usually harmless;) thank you for your comment!
Great Pictures
thank you!!
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thank you for tweeting it i really appreciate your support!:))
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I have never been to Maldives. There was real nice blue color combination between the sky and the ocean. The beach seemed very calm. Very well suites for anyone who're prefer to enjoy since peaceful beach area.
yes it was a very peaceful island and that is true, very calm. Definitely a relaxing place. Thank you for your comment!
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Hiya, @LivingUKTaiwan here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Top 3 in Your post has been manually curated by the @pinmapple team. If you like what we're doing, please drop by to check out all the rest of today's great posts and consider supporting other authors like yourself and us so we can keep the project going!this landscape really takes my breath away! Lol
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haha same for me mine too lol;))
Let's keep working and supporting each other to grow at Hive!...Hello @katrin-lux… I have chosen your post about “-Stingrays on the Baa Atoll-” for my daily initiative to re-blog - vote and comment…
Hi thank you so much !! Will check your blog out:))
What you said about the tails and the dangers or lack thereof, was interesting. I wasn't wondering about that. It's still a little unclear to me though. So if they attack, they whip their tails and a poison barb stings you? Is that right?
Yes thats the way they attack ;)) yes i like those facts too haha
I always wanted to visit Maldives but was somehow unsuccessful due to full booked. But it looks like now is the right time. Thank you for sharing informative story and beautiful images.
i am curious if you also post about the maldives here on hive;) i can highly recommend reethi beach, it is very popular with snorkelers and divers.
No, I have not manage to go to Maldives yet. But it's one of place on my priority list now. Thank you Katrin for the recommendation :D
I've never experienced it but will definitely when I get a chance. Sounds like a must do for me. I love anything that involves animals like this, seeing them up close and especially love the part of rays being free and fed like that. Thanks for sharing, amazing pictures! :)
thank you :)) yes its a must do for all who love to be underwater and explore the underwater world with its animals:) reethi bech is a perfect spot for that. yeah same for me its important that the animals are free !:)
Wow, again Maldives 🤩
Answering your questions, no, I have never been to Maldives, but we had met rays here in Spain. Actually, my husband stepped on one, by accident, it was in the shallow and he didn't realize it was a ray. But, when it moved and swim away,then it was not anymore funny, hahaha. Anyway, the ray didn't do anything to him but he was more aware next times where to step in the sea 😁
Awesome post, btw, @katrin-lux 👌
yes its my last one;))
i am shure its everywhere an awesome experience and spain is so beautiful! oh no yeah when they are looking for food they often dig themselves into the sand. haha that's good that nothing happened!
Thank you for your comment:)
Yes, nothing happened, fortunately. We had also an encounter with a huge octopus, that decided to follow us, it was so curious, and was not afraid of us... Ok, we went out from the water hahaha, but it still followed us to the shore, almost got out from the sea. Then jellyfish is normal to see and feel ;d Oh, yeah, once a barracuda passed by us 😱
you've already seen some great animals underwater. and the octopus! I'd like to see one of those too;) I think barracudas are cute haha:)
Barracuda is more scary than cute when you see it less then 1m from you 😁
The octopus, that was cute ;)