Spotted Eagle Ray in Cozumel
Spotted Eagle Ray (*Aetobatus narinari*) in Cozumel: how to identify it, when the season peaks, and what it is commonly confused with.
A dark back covered in clean white spots and rings, a pointed duck-like snout, and a very long thin tail. Flies through open water on pointed wings rather than lying on the bottom.
Quick ID
| Scientific name | Aetobatus narinari |
|---|---|
| Group | Sharks & Rays |
| Typical size | 100–250 cm across the wings |
| Depth range | 5–40 m |
| When to see it | Peak December–March |
| Active | Daytime |
| Conservation status | Endangered |
| Notes | Seasonal · Venomous — do not touch |
Where You Will See It In Cozumel
Cantarell is the site named for them, and winter squadrons cross the blue at Santa Rosa Wall and Punta Sur.
Reliable sites: Cantarell, Santa Rosa Wall, Punta Sur.
Behaviour
Uses the pointed snout to dig molluscs out of sand and crushes them with plated teeth. In the winter months they gather in groups and cross the drop-off in formation, which is the encounter most Cozumel divers are hoping for.
Commonly Confused With
- Southern stingray — Southern stingrays are plain grey-brown, lie on sand and do not have white spots.
- Manta ray — Mantas have cephalic fins either side of a wide terminal mouth and are far larger; they are not a Cozumel reef animal.
Diving Etiquette And Safety
Hold position, stay low and let them pass. Swimming up at a squadron turns it away — from you and from everyone behind you.
Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip