There are encounters that truly belong to the realm of the extraordinary. Last Saturday, May 23, 2009, the divers from the Planète Bleue team were lucky enough to observe a rare specimen: a sunfish, also known as Mola-mola. It belongs to the family of porcupine and pufferfish (armored fish).

It was at the Pointe Burgos site that the divers spotted « a large fin breaking the surface in the middle of Grande-Anse Bay », explained Guy Demory, an avid underwater photographer. Michel Pivette, a veteran diver and owner of the club, immediately recognized the Mola-mola’s distinctive fin, having seen the species before — though smaller — in the Mediterranean. « This is the first time in over 20 years living in Martinique that I have come across this very rare fish in our waters », he added.

The sunfish is found in tropical and temperate waters all around the world. « It is a pelagic fish that drifts with the currents because it is a poor swimmer », explains Michel Pivette. It can live at depths of up to about 1,970 feet and usually comes to the surface to feed on jellyfish. This Saturday, in fact, there was an abundance of them off the coast of Anses d’Arlets, which probably explains its presence ».

The observed specimen was of exceptional size, about 6.6 feet long and 8.2 feet tall, according to Guy Demory, the photographer. « The very peaceful animal allowed the freediving divers to approach and was photographed extensively, revealing its friendly-looking face with a large round mouth and bright eyes », he added. Harmless to humans, then ? Yes, despite its impressive mass, as it weighs about 2,205 lbs (the largest recorded Mola-mola measures 10.5 feet tall and about 5,950 lbs). Its rough, leather-like skin can reach a thickness of 2.8 inches, and it has a prominent head.