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Dolls N DreamsMANTA RAY AMAZING MASS MIGRATION
Looking like giant leaves floating in the sea thousands of Golden Rays are seen here gathering off the coast of Mexico .
The spectacular scene was captured as the magnificent creatures made one of their biannual mass migrations to more agreeable waters
Gliding silently beneath the waves they turned vast areas of blue water to gold off the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula .
Sandra Critelli, an amateur photographer, stumbled across the phenomenon while looking for whale sharks.
She said: 'It was an unreal image, very difficult to describe. The surface of the water was covered by warm and different shades of gold and looked like a bed of autumn leaves gently moved by the wind.
'It's hard to say exactly how many there were but in the range of a few thousand.
'We were surrounded by them without seeing the edge of the school and we could see many under the water surface too.
'I feel very fortunate I was there in the right place at the right& nbsp;time to experienced nature at his best.'
Measuring up to 7ft (2.1 meters) from wing-tip to wing-tip, Golden rays are also more prosaically known as cow nose rays.
They have long, pointed pectoral fins that separate into two lobes in front of their high-domed heads and give them a cow-like appearance.
Despite having poisonous stingers they are known to be shy and non-threatening when in large schools.
The population in the Gulf of Mexico migrates, in schools of as many as 10,000, clockwise from western Florida to the Yucatan .
Hi,
Pictures are fab! 
Right time ,right place. like everything in life! :hug:
Love kayx. 
Irenours-bearsAbsolutly wonderfull. Thank you so much for sharing :clap: :clap: :clap:
Studio 44Amazing
Dorothy
MerBear Originalsabsolutely amazing.
Marion
JigpawsWOW......what fantastic pictures :clap:
That must have been such a spectacular sight to see in the flesh!!!
Thanks for sharing the pics with us Tami :hug: :hug:
Hugs
Janice
Ruby Mountain Bearswow incredible, it doesn't seem real. How amazing to see.
LuxembearsNow that is amazing! What magnificent and beautiful creatures they are.
Boogaloo BearsGosh, that is absolutely amazing
hugs
Lisa
Chaska, Minnesotawow!! that is amazing...
Past Time BearsAwe inspiring!
'Bear' Bottoms OriginalsWow! Wonderful and beautiful! I love seeing and learning things like this... thanks for sharing!
Laurie Lou BearsGreat photos Tami
Laurie :hug:
Wow that is very cool!
Hugs,
Melanie
Woodbury Park BearsWow nature at it's best I get goosebumps just looking at it the adrenalin would have been pumping being there lucky lady.
Raewyn
DoodlebearsHugs Jane.
These incredible pictures are quite surreal looking aren't they. You could think you were in the middle of some sci-fi movie couldn't you? Mother Nature never ceases to amaze us.
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)In the late 70s a friend & I had buddied up in our group to dive in the FL Keys (http://www.pennekamppark.com/); we were near the top of a reef when a leopard ray/spotted eagle ray with a wing span of about 10 feet across
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/D … SERay.html
followed the same path we did up over the reef's ridge and down the other side.
Out of the corner of an eye, one of us spotted it coming and we couldn't do anything more than just watch. We both looked up, looked at each other and then just stared as this magnificent creation winged slowly over us and on down over the other side of the reef. I don't think either one of us remember to breathe for the full 2 minutes it was in view.......
The light above us diminished: we estimated the ray to've been at least 10' across. The only bad part is that this species is known for their extremely long whip-like tail. This one's tail was no more that 5 or 6' long. It most likely lost it in a battle sometime but I'll never forget those magnificent ringed spots on top and the creamy smooth underside, with the 'scoop fins' on either side of the mouth directing food into the maw.
