Two divers were treated to an extraordinary moment they’ll likely never forget when they came across a pair of sunfish while diving near a popular California beach.
Justin Ewan and his friend Joshua Ku were diving from a jetski off the coast of Long Reef beach in Collaroy, a suburb of Sydney’s northern beaches, on Sunday when they encountered two large figures approaching them underwater.
Ewan quickly realized that the dark shapes were actually two curious sunfish, each measuring about 1.8 meters (approximately 6 feet) in diameter.
The remarkable encounter with the sunfish was captured on camera using a GoPro, showcasing the incredible moment in the waters off Long Reef beach. Ewan described the experience, saying, “It was my turn to dive, and as I descended to about 10 meters, I looked straight ahead and noticed two massive figures coming towards me.”
I couldn’t quite believe it until they approached me closely – two massive sunfish.
“They seemed more curious than I was, swimming right up to me,” Ewan recounted.
Ewan noted the rarity of the sighting, as sunfish are usually seen in warm waters far from shore. The divers, Ewan and Joshua Ku, captured the encounter on a GoPro and shared the footage on Instagram.
“It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Ewan. “When they approached, I stayed calm, slowly diving down to film them as they swam away. Josh joined me later and also had the chance to experience it. We were incredibly grateful for that moment.”
Ewan expressed his love for diving, emphasizing the thrill of encountering the unexpected.
He highlighted the rarity of the sighting again, noting that sunfish are typically found in deep, warm waters offshore, not in the relatively shallow depths of 10 to 20 meters near the coast. Both Ewan and Joshua Ku felt fortunate for the encounter, considering it a unique and unforgettable experience.
The sunfish, known scientifically as Mola mola, holds the title for being the heaviest bony fish on the planet.
They have the potential to reach lengths of up to 3.1 meters, stand as tall as 4.2 meters, and tip the scales at over 2,000 kilograms. Moreover, they are categorized as vulnerable in their natural habitat, which makes this discovery even more remarkable.
They inhabit tropical waters worldwide and are frequently mistaken for sharks because of their fins.
The Ocean Sunfish is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List as a threatened species.
Their population is decreasing due to getting ensnared in nets and potentially suffocating from ingesting plastic that ends up in the ocean.
Additionally, they are prized as a delicacy in nations such as Japan and Taiwan.
