Scuba Dive

Why is the Mola Mola eating this woman's finger?

I love the quirky things the sea has to offer. Perhaps none more quirky is the infamous sunfish, otherwise known by its jollier name, the mola mola. Every time I see one, I think of a half eaten Popsicle with the stick protruding from both the top and bottom. Gill Divers reports recent sightings in Bali of these fantastically interesting creatures. And, if you are a real mola nut, you can see some great pics on earthwindow.com.

I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing one of these flat beauties in the wild, although they appear in many aquariums, such as the Genoa Aquarium, where I last saw one. The name mola means “millstone” in Latin, alluding to it’s round, flat shape. They eat jellyfish and are known to “bask at the surface” (aka. play dead) in order to rid themselves of parasites.

Sadly, like so many aquatic critters, folks in Asia seem to think of them more as “lunch” rather than as “unique.” Fortunately, the sale of their meat is banned elsewhere, helping to ensure that the mola mola will live on long after us. Have you seen one? Send us your pics, and your stories. After all, they are so good, you have to say their name twice.