The Shot:
Mobula rays glide beneath my daughter, Sophia, as golden light streaks through the water—god rays dancing across their backs in perfect harmony.

The Story:
During the May season, mobula rays are usually the sure thing. When nothing else shows up, we can almost always count on the mobulas to deliver something epic for our guests. But this season? They’ve been harder to find than ever. Nature doing its thing—reminding us who's in charge.

Yesterday, that changed.

After days of tough conditions and quiet ocean, we finally had our best mobula encounter—friendly animals, great visibility, and perfect light. This image was taken on Sophia’s third day out here. She dropped into the water, floated above the school, and the light hit just right. As she hovered, the rays formed below her, and everything aligned.

I fired the shot, took a quick look at my monitor and histogram and hoped I had something special. I wouldn’t really know until I got it home on my computer.

Camera Settings:

Camera: Canon 5D Mark IV (“Gloria”)
Housing: Aquatica
Lens: 8–15mm fisheye
Shutter Speed: 1/320
Aperture: f/9
ISO: 800
Light: Natural sunlight, early morning, (9AM), decently clear water, the best we have had this season.

The Challenge:
This season, finding mobulas has been far from guaranteed. Water clarity was hit or miss, and the animals have been scattered. Capturing the moment took timing, patience, and luck with some sun.

Why It Matters:
Mobulas are often our backup plan, but this photo reminds me that even the "reliable" species can surprise us. And sometimes, when you least expect it, the ocean gives you a gift. I got to photograph my daughter sharing space with these beautiful animals under nice light. That’s a moment I’ll never forget.