A Fever of Cownose Rays

A Fever of Cownose Rays - AKP001
 
The highly awarded 'A Fever Of Cownose Rays' is Alex's most prized image. 
A rare encounter with a fever of cownose rays on the Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. The images were taken whilst freediving to approximately 6 metres and using natural light. The rays were circling and rubbing together in a behaviour that is still not clearly understood. According to researchers, most likely a mating behaviour.  The rays were spiralling up and down the water column from the surface to 20 metres for approximately 20 minutes until they were not seen again. Undeterred by my presence, they continued to focus on each whilst I documented the encounter. There have been few reports of cownose rays in the Ningaloo Reef region and over the last four years working there, I had never seen them. The species of ray cannot be accurately identified, it is either Rhinoptera javanica or Rhinoptera neglecta. It was a once in a lifetime encounter.
 
Awards:
2020 AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 'ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR' - 1ST PRIZE
2020 SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS NATURAL WORLD & WILDLIFE - SHORTLISTED
2020 UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR CATEGORY - HIGHLY COMMENDED
2019 AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS WILDLIFE CATEGORY - 1ST PRIZE