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Halaveli Wreck *** The Halaveli Wreck also known as the Razza Wreck, is
a 38 metre cargo vessel sunk by the Halaveli diving centre in 1991. It sits upright with
the bow facing north, 40 metres from the reef. The deck is at 20 metres and the bottom is
on sand at 28 metres. Diving Hints: The rays are most active in the afternoon and can sometimes become quite aggresive in their attempt to obtain food. Divers shoudl keep their hands away from the rays mouths as they suck so hard as to draw fingers inside. Divers should not attempt to ride or chase the rays as at least one diver has been injured while grabbing hold. They should only be fed by instructors with knowledge of their habits.
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Apart from the wreck itself, the main
attraction are four large sting rays that have been trained to take food. It took
instrcutors from Halaveli six months to train them and now they are quick to surround
divers in anticiaption of a free feed. Three of the rays are female black-spotted sting
rays up to 1.5 metres in size. The fourth is a brown female ray of similar size. Sting
rays naturally feed by smothering and crushing their prey, and sucking the contents into
their mouths on the underside of their belly, so the rays tend to swim over divers, often
brushing against them. A small turtle has made a home for itself on the wreck and a couple
of large morays have also taken up residence. Some coral has already taken hold, most
noticeably some pretty soft coral on the telegraph.