Stingray Station

Stingray Station is a large, roughly quadrangular reef outcrop in the northwestern part of The Alternatives reef complex in the Strait of Gubal, named for the seasonal gatherings of blue-spotted ribbontail stingrays that are particularly concentrated here in spring.

Overview

The reef plateau extends for over a kilometre and sits at only about 12 m depth, making this one of the shallower dives in the Gubal area and very accessible to snorkellers due to the shelter the reef provides. The site can be dived as either a mooring dive or a drift dive. Currents are typically 1–2 knots with visibility ranging from 10–30 m.

Blue-spotted ribbontail stingrays are most reliably seen in March and April. Year-round the site is frequented by leopard (zebra) sharks resting on the sandy patches. Despite its reputation for these larger species, Stingray Station is also excellent for small-reef creatures — it hosts a notable variety of nudibranchs on the reef substrate.

Dive Profile

Depth range 10–15 m. The shallow reef top allows long bottom times. An extended plateau with patches of sand, rubble, and coral head provides varied habitat. Good for beginners and popular with snorkellers when weather shelters the reef surface.

Marine Life

• Blue-spotted ribbontail rays (especially March–April)
• Leopard (zebra) sharks resting on sandy patches year-round
• Diverse nudibranch species
• Reef fish community on the coral structures

Tips

• Best visited March–April for the concentrated stingray aggregations
• Can be combined with other Alternatives dive sites in the same morning
• The shallow depth makes it an ideal second dive to extend bottom time

Sources: DiversionDiveTravel — Stingray Station, ScubaDiving.place — The Alternatives / Stingray Station. Last updated 2026-05-17.