The Manta Network will be conducting research into manta ray behavior July 2006 in the Indian Ocean. You are invited to participate as a research assistant and aid our scientists in the collection of important data that will lead to manta protection. The diving on the west side of the atolls in the southwest season (May-October) is spectacular. You will regularly encounter large schools of pelagic fish such as sharks, eagle rays and tuna. Another noticeable feature of the southwest season is that the water temperature is usually one or two degrees lower that the usual 28º C (82ºF). This has an effect on both the behavior and sightings of marine life, particularly the grey reef sharks and hammerheads, which seem to congregate in larger numbers and in shallower water at this time of year. On the eastern side of the atolls, the southwest season is the best time to see manta rays and whale sharks. Here your visibility is not so good, but this is compensated for by the wonderful experience of diving with these huge plankton feeders. Departures & Itinerary We are offering a 13-day and a 7-day (6 nights) expedition on MV Sea Spirit. Departure dates for the 13-day expedition is July 17 and for the 7-day trip is July 31, 2006. (July 17-30 & July 31-August 6, 2006) Travel to Maldives can be arranged through our travel consultant, Uncommon Adventures, with a special discount. Air travel will generally require an additional day of travel on each end of the trip. Day 1: Arrive in airport; greeted by Manta Network staff; transfer to ship, ship leaves the same day; sleep on-board Day 2: Ship tour and initial training on research equipment and procedures; check-out and warm-up dives; introductory manta lecture Day 3-5 or 3-11: Diving for manta identification, acoustic tracking and DNA tissue sampling; daily data evaluation; research planning; manta lecture

Day 6 or Day 12: Diving; evaluation of research data collected, final lecture and presentation; sleep on-board while ship returns to port Day 7 or Day 13: After breakfast, leave the ship for the airport or special excursions Unlimited diving within safety limits will be allowed including several night dives. All meals and soft drinks are included. The cost of the 13-day/12-night trip is $2,995 USD without air. The 7-day/6-night trip cost $1,995 USD. Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Jim Harlan, Uncommon Adventures can make all travel arrangements including special excursions and land-based resorts. Included at no additional cost: Airport transfers to/from ship on arrival and departure Diving (tanks, weights, weights belts) Full board accommodation in a twin or double cabin Canned soft drinks Various excursions Not included (costs vary): Airfare Airport taxes Certification costs (CMAS, PADI, TDI) Visas and vaccinations costs Short term cancellation insurance Luggage insurance Personal diving insurance Repatriation insurance Personal expenses Meals at the airport Value Added Taxes (VAT)

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ABOUT THE RESEARCH The scarcity of research on manta rays (Manta birostris) hampers effective conservation management. Although there is no industrial fishery for manta rays, they are taken throughout much of their range. They are caught incidentally on long-lines, in near-shore set nets, and in tuna purse seines. They are targeted in artisan fisheries in Mexico, the Philippines and Indonesia. In Lamakera, Indonesia, the mantas’ dried gill rakers are sold to Asian medicinal markets. Due to the high price for the gill rakers, manta catch here has increased dramatically from approximately 75 in the late 1990’s to as many as 1,500 in 2002. Related mortality of manta rays by fisheries is cause for concern. Mantas are extremely susceptible to over-fishing due to their low fecundity, small population size, and limited migration in some areas. There are numerous reports of declining populations in Mexico, Bora Bora, and the Philippines. In order to develop a conservation plan, additional population structure and life history data are crucial. The research conducted on board will contribute to several of our global research efforts. The three principal research projects are: Manta Global Database – creating a global knowledge base to understand population dynamics using photo ID and direct observations by our network of research affiliates worldwide Indo-Pacific Manta Migration Study -- project goals include: Map the distribution of resident and migratory populations and identify features that influence the observed patterns. Describe the scope of movement for migratory mantas. Determine population structure throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Identify potential sources of mortality. Define critical habitat and environmental preferences. Work with local communities to obtain life history information and to educate the public. Identify appropriate conservation strategies (e.g., marine protected areas, time area closures). Continuous Manta Monitoring – understanding the dynamics of resident manta rays using a network of remotely controlled underwater video cameras Research Activities and Goals: The Manta Network aims to collect the data on manta biology that is necessary to protect them from over exploitation. The project will include the following activities: Identify the makeup of the local population including defining habitat preferences. This will be done in a two-step program. First the Kairos team will assemble as much information on local mantas as available. Second, our team will visit to survey prime manta locations. With the help of staff and the eco-tour participants, we will photo/video-document mantas and their habitat behavior (i.e. cleaning stations, feeding, social interaction) We will employ our unique underwater video monitoring system on-board. This will allow 24x7 eyes below the boat (even at night) to monitor behavior without the presence of divers. Fiber-optic/power cables will connect the camera to the Karios and will be relocated each time the ship is moved. Acoustic tags will be applied during each trip to track local movements. We will require a smaller boat to follow the tagged manta’s movements. DNA tissue samples will be taken as possible to add to our global understanding of population diversity. Photographs and video taken during the entire tour and research will to be used in the creation of a documentary and for manta identification analysis. Satellite tags may also be applied for long-term and long-range studies to understand migration behavior. This will depend on identifying non-resident mantas (results of acoustic tagging) and available funds to purchase sufficient numbers of tags as each tag will cost in excess of $5,000. The tag is attached using a spear gun. During the trip, we will hold classroom discussions on all that is known about manta rays. A PADI Manta Certification Program and award certificates may be included.

Methodology: To document the movements of migratory manta rays we use pop-up satellite archival tags (PAT). Tags record temperature, depth and light intensity for 9 months then release, float to the surface and transmit collected data to the Argos satellites. Temperature and depth describe behaviors and habitat preferences. Light levels and sea surface temperatures are used to estimate latitude and longitude. Movements will be examined in relation to environmental conditions and the distribution of fisheries. To compliment satellite telemetry, DNA analysis will be used to examine population structure. Population dynamics, potential barriers to migration, and connectivity among regions will be investigated using nuclear microsatellite analysis. Photo-ID is effective because manta rays have distinct pigment patterns that allow individuals to be identified. By using photo-ID and video, insights into behaviors, reproductive biology, and the distributions of resident versus migratory populations can be obtained. We will work with local groups to establish regional photo-ID programs and to develop public education aimed at manta ray conservation. Equipment we may be bringing include: Underwater digital photography cameras and housing including: Nikon D70, Olympus 8080 Sony HD video with Gates underwater housing Macintosh computers 5-10 acoustic tags and receiver 3 PAT with spear gun (unless one is available locally) MantaCam remotely operated underwater camera system with shipboard server (unless Linux server is available) 24 tissue-sampling kits Personal dive gear

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ABOUT MALDIVES The Maldives islands are located to the south west of India and straddle the Indian Ocean stretching 539 miles north to. At its widest point the country is only 79 miles wide. The country is made up of an archipelago of 26 atolls. The largest atoll is Huvadhoo in the south and contains about 250 islands. The smallest atoll is Thoddoo that consists just one small island. Geographically the archipelago extends north to the Laccadives that politically belongs to India and south to the Chagos archipelago that is a British Indian Ocean Territory and includes Diego Garcia that is leased to the US. When the country is observed from sea level on a boat, the country seems to disappear as the actual land mass is extremely small and the islands are quite remote from each other. The land mass consists only 0.2 percent of the surface area. There are approximately 2,000 islands but only about 200 are officially classified as locally inhabited island. As the highest point above seas level is only 12 feet and most islands are less than 6 feet, the islands continually change due to erosion and coral/sand deposits. It is not uncommon to see a large sandbank appear one year, only to see it disappear the next. Despite rising sea levels, the sea level in the Maldives has actually dropped by 30cm in the past 25 years, but as the damage caused by the 2005 Tsunami proved, the islands, and thus the nation, is very susceptible to rising sea levels and damage by extreme weather. Luckily the Maldives fall outside the hurricane belt and is in fact in the areas known as the doldrums due to the relatively low winds experienced.

Tourist islands with 5-star accommodation and swimsuit-clad guests co-exist with simple local islands nearby where life has changed very little in the past 50 years and fishing continues to be the main profession of the islanders. There are now approximately 100 tourist atolls, mainly in the central atolls, but the Government has announced plans for much greater development of the north and south of the country, one the infrastructure is in place. ABOUT MALDIVES SCUBA TOURS Maldives Scuba Tours has been organizing trips for scuba divers for the past eleven years. They now have a loyal base of customers who have booked with again and again knowing that they provide a first class service. Maldives Scuba Tours was established 12 years ago by Rob Bryning and Sam Harwood, authors of "Dive Sites of the Maldives" and a number of other guides to the Maldives and the Indian Ocean. Rob and Sam are very experienced divers and are SSI Pro 5000 divers with extensive knowledge of worldwide live boards. Maldives Scuba Tours are recognized as leading experts on live boards and diving holidays to the Maldives. We own and operate two world-class live aboard dive vessels in the Maldives, the MV Sea Queen and the MV Sea Spirit. In addition to our live boards, we offer holidays to a selection of carefully chosen resort islands.