What Demons Lurk Below?

As I arrived at the beach this morning, I noticed a large splash down the coast. Too big to be a dolphin - maybe a small whale? Not likely. Maybe a great white shark? Hmmmmm.

A short way into my nervous swim I stopped to chat with a passing kayaker. I mentioned the splash and he suggested eagle rays. Says they are a bit rambunctious during mating season and one probably leaped from the water while being chased. I guess that two rays jumping and landing together could have made that size splash.

Just a little farther along I came across these three spotted eagle rays hanging in the current right where I left them last week. They were way too docile and calm to have been jumping. Must have been something else. Something that, fortunately, I never saw.