The Smooth Stingray (Dasyatis brevicaudata) is in the Family Stingray (Dasyatididae) and the Order Myliobatiformes. In Sydney we call it the Bull Ray. It is a special, but not uncommon sighting in Sydney. This species is found as far away as South Africa. This is a common species to see at the beautiful Montague Island dive site from Narooma in the South of New South Wales. In the winter months they can be seen across many dive sites in Sydney.
This is the largest species within the family of true stingrays in the world. They can be really big (up to 2 metres) and as a result are hard to miss! They can be seen at most dive sites in Sydney, from the shallows, to the deep. They seem to travel alone but are harmless so long as you are careful with them and do not try to provoke them. This is the species that caused the famous Steve Irwin to lose his life, so definitely respect them.