Surfer gets pushed by manta ray at Flagler Beach

[mitseraffej]

As a teenager back in the mid 1970s in New Zealand, I was surfing at dusk in about 3 feet of water when a friend was knocked off his board by an orca chasing stingrays. It sure did traumatise us.

[nathanielhurley]

This is what happens when a movable object meets an unstoppable manta ray.

[davidking]

Manta Ray: "There's a family of Tiger sharks headed this way..don't say I didn't warn you"

[krolltheknight]

Manta: “Sir, out of my way I’m late for work”

[Willsurf]

There actually very friendly and curious creatures! gotta love em!

[ericg]

Less of the Manta approaching the surfer, and more of the surfer approaching the Manta in it's line of feeding, but still, what a magical unforgettabubble encounter

[craigfield]

Had a magical experience with my young son 20 years ago when giant Smooth Spotted Stingray glided out of the deeper water off Depot Beach NSW South Coast.
We ran out of the water to see this huge creature at least 2m wide swim into the shallow water eyeball us then glide away again. Never forgotten it.

[fuocofuegofire]

I was on a trip in Mexico taking a boat to the mariettas islands, I spotted what I thought was a shark fin but it turned out to be a manta ray wing tip. The driver of the boat stopped so we could look. A frenchman jumped out of the boat with his snorkel to take a look. I don't know if the Manta Ray was threatened by him or what but it charged him and pushed him under the water for like thirty feet. The guy was pretty shaken by the experience and was bleeding on his leg. They have shark like skin apparently that cut him. It was freaky. I'm glad I didn't jump in. I still remember the guy saying in a french accent. "ze manta ray she take me" Pretty cool to see one that close.

[kenproctor]

2 manta rays went right under the crowd at Point Panic in Oahu summer of 1972 ... giant shadows silent passing below

[michaelcrawford]

Brings new meaning to the phrase "surfer gets pushed by manta ray at Flagler Beach"

[fatdoggolovespizza]

He just calmly watches it bump into him and then proceeds to curiously follow it haha.

[takotako]

I had a manta donk me on the head one night while I was diving for lobster.. as soon I began my descent i was completely focused on the lobster i seen.... Out of nowhere I get whack in the head and think oh man it's over😅. Just to shine my light and see a group of mantas following me.

[russianbot]

Nothing is more fun than murky water where you can’t tell what something is and something can’t tell what you are 😅

[Scxjunkie]

Beautiful human and nature interaction, more than what I expected, great vide

[dennyliegerot]

I used to see mantas and eagle rays all the time when surfing the Flagler Beach area...pretty cool.

[Deafening_Silence_]

what an amazing once in a lifetime encounter! they're beautiful creatures 😀

[dangerfindertreasureseeker]

Ray - Ok kids this is a surfer try not to get too close . Nemo !!! You stay close to me !!! We are not having a repeat of last week !!!

[SSJ-rtcz]

Manta Ray: "I can't outswim what's chasing me, But I can outswim you!".

[al]

I know its just a Manta Ray but, muddy water and you can’t tell who is going to say “hi” next with very sharp teeth and immense bite force. Surfing is a very risky business

[zarahofshiloh]

I was camping at Santa Rosa Island near Pensacola, where I once lived and I was with my son who made the forth generation who camped there. The first generation just camped on the beech before there was a camp site; talk about roughing it. Any way, my son and I were body surfing with a stranger near by also. Then, I thought I saw a couple of shark fins in the waves and told my son to head back to shore as I and the man tried to identify it and it was three sting rays surfing in the waves having fun. I called my son back out to watch with us. They would swim out to catch a wave and come within a few feet and turn around and swim out again to catch another wave. It was awesome to see this behavior of sting rays just wanting to have fun in the surf, just like us. As a surfer would say, "It was totally gnarly dude!"😃