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Guy Stevens was on a diving expedition studying Manta Rays when one in particular caught his attention. In his experience they are usually shy around humans but this very large female swam right up to him. At first he was awestruck by the moment and her beauty, but then he noticed several distinct markings on her back and sides. Then he realized that it was exposed flesh due to a fishing line that had wrapped itself around her body cutting her with deep gashes.
Armed with a diving knife he kept motioning for her to come closer and to his surprise, she did. He began to gently cut away the line and found a very large hook stuck in her mouth, which must have made it nearly impossible for her to eat. He was shocked as she remained still and allowed him to move around her cutting the line as he went. The other Manta’s were swimming all around but none ever came very close to him or the other divers. When he was finished he slowly backed away and she began to circle around him several times before swimming away. It felt like she was thanking him.
A few days later they went back to dive in the same place and soon they were surrounded by several large Mantas. One separated itself from the group and gently circled each diver until it came to Guy. He realized it was a female as she began circling him over and over again, which was definitely odd behavior. Then he noticed the cuts on her sides and back. This was the SAME Manta he had saved days earlier.
How had she recognized him? Was it possible she was searching for him when she circled the other divers? She stayed with Guy for several minutes, never paying any attention to anyone else in the dive group. The other divers stared in amazement at what was happening, they had never experienced behavior like this from Manta Rays. Eventually she slowly swam away but Guy has never forgotten that moment where it felt like she was, again, thanking him for saving her life. He could see her cuts had begun to heal and she would survive but her unique behavior reminds him of how little we know about these amazing creatures.
Diving the World, a guide to the world’s most popular dive sites by Beth and Shaun Tierney, is a wonderful journey to the best diving on the planet. Written by well renowned divers and authors Beth and Shaun Tierney, who have dived and explored every destination in the book, making it a well- researched, comprehensive and inspirational guide.
As a scuba diver and underwater photojournalist for more than 35 years, I have traveled to many of the same locations highlighted in this book. I enjoyed revisiting these locations through the images and story.
This highly informative and impressive collection of dive destinations and location details provides both the new and well-seasoned traveler with as much in depth data as is possible in a world survey. The underwater photographs and map illustrations add much to the journey.
I was pleased to find several locations that have either been on my list of ‘must dives’ or that are welcomed surprises to add to my list.
Robert Aston,
Editor-in-chief,
On-the-Edge Magazine
Dive The Galapagos seeks your support for membership in two newly formed Facebook groups. Please join these groups so the way we all feel might become one huge voice that will be heard.
For more details on each group, please read this open plea from our blog.
I am very lucky to dive in the Galapagos each month where we have mantas, mobulas, eagle rays and more. Also many sharks. In November I had an amazing experience snorkeling (not even diving) with 10 giant mantas…9 males chasing a female so close to us that I was clipped by a wing. I have never had such an incredible experience with Mantas even diving the landmark site of Wolf. I think there were more Mantas at Cousins in November than Wolf. Yes, I’m spoiled and lucky: hammerheads, mantas, eagle rays and more are the norm here.
We are holidaying in Koh Lanta at the moment and today we went out on our first day of diving on the trip. As we have for the past 5 years we were diving with Blue Planet and were happy when Laurent said we were going to the main dive sites in this area - Hin Muang and Hin Daeng, but weren’t too pleased when he said it was a 6.45am meet - meaning getting up at 5.45 to walk the dogs. Not even they were to happy to be walking at that time - they are on holiday after all as well!!
The boat left at 7am and most people had a sleep on the way. We got to Hin Maung first after the 4 hour boat journey - it’s a long way and not by speedboat!! Viz was only about 7-10 metres, but with lots of fish and the possibility of a Manta that was enough. It was just nice to be diving somewhere different and to see different fish to usual. The first dive was good but pretty uneventful with the rumour of somebody seeing a Manta but nothing confirmed.
Then after a quick hour on the surface we dropped down at Hin Daeng, with a message from another boat saying there were two Mantas around. Again viz was only about 7-10 metres, but again with lots of fish and lots of colour the viz was enough. After swimming around for about 10-15 minutes and frantically looking for the Manta’s, I caught a very quick glimpse of a big dark object swimming away. Knowing there was a Manta around we stayed put for a couple of minutes before seeing a 4 metre Manta swimming quickly below us at about 30 metres. I managed to get a quick shot but not a brilliant one. Knowing the Manta’s were in this area most of the dive groups stayed around, and watching one group start swimming and pointing at the same time I guessed they had seen one. And sure enough there was a big Manta Ray about 6 metres tip to tip, just disappearing over a ridge. We managed to get within a couple of metres of it before it turned and quickly disappeared. Again I managed to get a few photos but none that are likely to win any awards!! But to be honest I’m not too bothered about the photos, seeing Manta Ray’s again made it worth while getting out of bed while it was still dark!!
Uniquely hand painted manta rays on T-shirts by acclaimed artist Lynn Jaye are available for purchase online from the Manta Network store. These individually hand painted manta T-shirts will also be personally signed by the artist. A portion of the proceeds benefits manta research.
We have added many new items for this year’s holiday gift giving. Choose from a wide array of embroiled items, manta videos and fine art T-shirts and canvases by aclaimed artist Lynn Jaye.
Troy Hotard’s fine art manta painting is also available as an original or giclee print.
DEMA Exhibition Orlando, Florida Booth #367 Nov. 4-7, 2009
Join the Manta Network in Orlando Florida at the 2009 Diving Equipment & Marketing Association’s annual trade show. Learn about our recent efforts to help protect manta and mobula rays worldwide.
Ocean Presence Technologies will also be presenting its underwater live video cameras. These cameras are being deployed around the world to study marine life and for ocean education. Their new high-definition camera will be announced at the show.
Uniquely hand painted manta rays on T-shirts by acclaimed artist Lynn Jaye are available for purchase in the Manta Network booth. These individually hand painted manta T-shirts will also be personally signed by the artist. A portion of the proceeds benefits manta research.
EXPANDED ONLINE MANTA SHOPPING FOR THE HOLIDAYS
We have added many new items for this year’s holiday gift giving. Choose from a wide array of embroiled items, manta videos and fine art T-shirts and canvases by aclaimed artist Lynn Jaye. Troy Hotard’s fine art manta painting is also available as an original or giclee print.
WATCH: Weird, True and Freaky –Bizarre Births (30 minutes)
Sep 29, 9:30 pm EST (6:30 pm PST) and again at 11:30 pm EST (8:30 pm PST)
Disturbing deliveries, gruesome newborns, and slithering killer infants. Strange babies born to strange moms in the strangest ways. Counting down the animal kingdom’s most bizarre births.
In this new program, the birth of manta rays will be discussed. You may even catch a glimpse of The Manta Network’s Executive Director, Robert Aston.
Text and photos by Peter Schneider, Rangiroa, French Polynesia
Rangiroa, this is the name of the place I call my home…at least since I moved here five years ago. It is the second biggest atoll in the world and the biggest one in French Polynesia. Its name, “huge sky,” describes accurately the phenomena when on a windless day the smooth surface of the lagoon melts with the sky. But there is more Rangiroa is famous for. It’s the abundance of pelagic fish, especially sharks…great hammerheads, silvertips, and hundreds of grey reef sharks. Filmmakers from all over the world make the long journey to the midst of the Pacific Ocean for them…or better to take good, clear images of them. Howard Hall, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Luc Besson, and Jean-Jacques Mantello just to name a few.
Some of them I met and have had the honor to dive with. Me with my small 3CCD mini DV camcorder parked next to their huge Beta Cams, HDs, and 3D Imax cameras. I watched them, not without jealousy I have to admit. But tight shooting schedules always forced them to leave earlier than they wished. Since I live here, I stayed, diving and diving again, filling tape after tape, first mini DV and now HDV, looking for the beauty in the beast, for a better shot than the last, for the “one,” hoping that my patience would pay off one day.
On August 7, 2006 everything came together. It was the end of an afternoon drift dive through one of the two passes that connect Rangiroa’s lagoon with the ocean. Starting in the blue of the Pacific and ending in the so-called Aquarium, there is a sandy patch in the lagoon, dotted with coral heads and all kinds of tropical fish.
January 6, 2010, Ocean Presence Technologies (OPT), Santa Cruz, California announces that the first in a new family of high-definition (HD) cameras are now being delivered. The OceanCam® OPT-10HD, can be controlled and viewed over the Internet. The pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras transmit H.264 compressed 720p video with audio and can be configured to stream li […]
Kent Denver School Goliath Grouper Research Project The Goliath Grouper OceanCam is back online after the Florida Department of Transportation finished their bridge maintenance project. [View Goliath Grouper Video] One of OPT’s OceanCam is positioned facing northwest, about 12 feet apart, between the northbound and southbound lanes of the Bahia Honda B […]
The Manta Network applauds the United Nations for their efforts! Become part of our mission to save the manta rays before they disappear. Visit http://www.mantas.org June 8, 2009 The United Nations General Assembly decided that, as from 2009, 8 June would be designated by the United Nations as “World Oceans Day” (resolution 63/111, paragraph [...]
The Goliath Grouper cameras have now been working for more than three months and continue to capture the daily interest of hundreds of people, students and educators. [View Goliath Grouper Video] Now you too can be an underwater videographer! Collect hours of underwater video without leaving your computer. Create your own underwater action video and [...]
Kent Denver School Goliath Grouper Research Project The two OceanCams are positioned facing northwest, about 12 feet apart, between the nothbound and southbound lanes of the Bahia Honda Bridge. The best times for viewing are at slack high tide or anytime on the flood tide. The above-water cameras are in two positions, one viewing the [...]
Visit NGS’s Live WildCam Belize WildCam Belize Image Gallery [PSGallery=1qtc6d69dc] Also see behind the scenes of this exciting technology. Tell us what you think below.
OPT designs and manufactures a full line of advanced underwater IP video products including cameras, lighting, data recorders and wireless network components. Originally designed for research with manta rays, the OceanCam is now being employed in research, education, security and other commercial oceanographic applications. Our PTZ (pan-tilt and zoom) vid […]
WATCH: Weird, True and Freaky –Bizarre Births (30 minutes)
school of mantas
Ocean
