Stingrays

Stingrays spend most of the day half-buried in sand, breathing through spiracles on top of their head. Bluespotted ribbontail rays (Taeniura lymma) are the photogenic stars of Indian Ocean reefs — yellow-brown bodies covered in electric-blue spots, common on Andaman, Maldives and Sri Lanka sand patches.

Approach slowly and from the side, never overhead. Most rays will tolerate close approach if you stay low and still. They sting only when stepped on or cornered — avoidable with awareness.

Larger stingrays such as the round ribbontail ray (Taeniurops meyeni) cruise deeper. Maldives night dives often produce stingray encounters at cleaning stations.