hey,thought I would share this, was at Brighton on sat and nearly stepped on a ray, must have been ten feet wide, well maybe not, but it was a big sucker .a foot deep and maybe three feet wide , could nt see how long it was due to the muddy water, but I was only in about ten inches of water, faaaaaaaaaark, its back was out of the water as it swam along over the shallow sand into deeper water nearer the shore.I always felt safer in shallower water, till now. ah well, just one more exciting thing to be aware of.
I saw one out in the middle of the bay off manly, frightened the daylghts out of me as it was swimming along with one wing in the air like a fin of a shark. it was a black ray i saw.
Princess Royal and Oyster Harbours are carpeted with 'em, plus all the (harmless) shovel nosed sharks. It does make falling of a disconcerting lottery.
I stood on one at Wello on the west side as I stepped on the board, second time I'd been stung by one, Man they hurt. After 5 minutes my foot wouldn't fit in the strap then went to a med center who gave me local and pethidine. Then I drove to Royal Brisbane Hospital where they X-rayed, wired me up and put my foot in hot hot water for a couple of hours, made my skin peel.
They said it's a protein that only heat will break down.
Met a bloke in Perth who had been nailed by one in Florida two months prior. Still had a three inch open wound on his leg. Not a pretty sight!