scubaseason
Vulnerable· population decreasing· assessed 2015

Ocean Sunfish

Mola mola

Sighting evidence at Rathlin Island, Ireland

Ocean Sunfish

Photo: Randy Puckett · CC BY-NC

These bizarre, disc-shaped giants weighing up to 2,300 kg appear around Rathlin in summer, following jellyfish blooms northward through the North Channel. Divers regularly encounter them ascending from depth to bask near the surface, allowing remarkable close approaches. Their apparently clumsy swimming belies remarkable depth range — individuals have been tracked to over 400 metres.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Ocean Sunfish is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Also seen at other sites