Spotted Eagle Ray: A Ray That Flies

The spotted eagle ray is one of the ocean's most beautiful sights — a dark, diamond-shaped ray covered in white spots, 'flying' through the blue on broad, wing-like fins with a long whip tail trailing behind. Here's how to spot one near Jacó, plus five fun facts.

Spotted Eagle Ray · Aetobatus laticeps

How to spot the spotted eagle ray near Jacó

Look out into the blue and over sandy areas near reef for a large, dark ray flapping slowly like a bird in flight, its back dusted with white spots. Spotted eagle rays sometimes cruise past the edges of reefs and sandy flats. Give any ray plenty of space and simply enjoy watching it glide.

5 fun facts about the spotted eagle ray

• It flies underwater. Broad, pointed 'wings' let it soar through open water with slow, graceful flaps, looking just like a bird in flight.
• A field of stars. White spots scattered across its dark back form a unique pattern — no two eagle rays are marked exactly alike.
• A duck-like snout. Its flat, rounded snout works like a shovel to dig clams, snails, and crabs out of the sand, which it crushes with plated teeth.
• A long, whip-like tail. Its slender tail can be several times the length of its body; it carries defensive spines, so we always keep a respectful distance.
• A spectacular leaper. Eagle rays sometimes launch clear out of the water, landing with a loud slap — a behavior scientists are still trying to fully explain.

The spotted eagle ray is just one of many characters down there. See the whole cast in our Snorkel Jaco fish directory, or read real guest photos and reviews on the Snorkel Jaco reviews.