We only saw three species of rays -- yellows, southerns and eagles -- during our many dives.

But there were several of these small and striking yellow sting rays, both on the reefs and the adjoining sand, but also in the turtle grass flats, where their color offered them extremely effective cover from predators.

This one was a little perturbed as I jockeyed for a shot, finally settling in the sand under a small coral overhang at Hammerhead Gulch.

I had to get down on my belly in the sand and negotiate the camera housing up under the coral. But the result is a really close view of this distinctively marked ray.