A group of scuba divers were exploring a section of Barkley Sound with Rendezvous Dive Adventures last week when they had a rare encounter with one of the strangest fish seen off the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Peter Mieras, dive captain and owner of Rendezvous Dive Adventures, had a group of experienced divers in the water when he spotted the telltale dorsal fin of a mola mola.

A mola mola is also known as an ocean sunfish, and is an odd-looking bony fish weighing between 250 and 1,000 kilograms. The looks like it is swimming on its side.

Mola mola arensa国际传媒檛 usual visitors to the waters off Vancouver Island. They are usually found in tropical or more temperate waters, and they feed off jellyfish.

Mieras said he usually sees them in Barkley Sound sa国际传媒渙nly in summers when El Nino is on.

sa国际传媒淚 have seen three-foot to six-foot ones, which is usually the bigger side of the scale.sa国际传媒�

The dive group Mieras was leading included experienced divers. They were getting ready to enter the water when they spotted the mola molasa国际传媒檚 dorsal fin.

sa国际传媒淭he fish actually turned towards them and came to check them out,sa国际传媒� Mieras said. The divers remained a respectful distance from the giant sunfish as Mieras instructed them to stay calm and give it lots of room.

Lee Critchley filmed the encounter underwater, while Mieras had a camera on his boat on the oceansa国际传媒檚 surface. Mieras is known for his marine videos, several of which have been featured in film festivals and one that he created to accompany sa国际传媒楤ecome Ocean,sa国际传媒� a Pulitzer Prize-winning musical score.

To watch some of Mierassa国际传媒� videos, check out his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/rendezvousdiving or www.subvisionproductions.com.

susie.quinn@albernivalleynews.com
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