Photo courtesy of James Wing

Wing named official Hula Kai underwater videographer
Posted on January 20, 2010. Tags: big island ocean guides, hula kai, james wing, manta ray

Manta rays are common visitors to Kona’s waters.

MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island Ocean Guides has announced the appointment of James Wing as the official Hula Kai underwater videographer.

Marine photographer Wing, known locally as the “Manta Man,” brings two decades of manta ray and scuba diving experience along the Kona Coast. Wing’s work has been prominently featured in the New York Times, New York Post, San Francisco Chronicle, and the Honolulu Advertiser in addition to numerous dive and travel publications. His marine subjects include manta rays, whales, dolphins, and reef fish.

Manta Rays are a “must do” for anyone who travels to Hawaii and the activity has been touted as “one of the top-10 things to do in your lifetime” by the Travel Channel.

As Hula Kai’s official underwater videographer, Wing records the manta ballet on each excursion and participants can view it on a HD monitor during the short jaunt back to Keauhou.

A fully edited, customized DVD with music is made available for purchase to passengers to preserve and share this once in lifetime experience with friends and family.

Hula Kai’s Evening Manta Night Snorkel & Dive Adventure departs nightly at sunset. Guests are treated to a fun yet safe environment in which to observe up close the gentle and graceful mantas feeding nightly on plankton.

Excursion includes snorkel gear, wetsuit, instruction plus warm beverages, soups and snacks. For information or to make a reservation on a Hula Kai Manta Night Snorkel & Dive go to: www.fair-wind.com

Fair Wind, Big Island Ocean Guides offer exclusive snorkeling and scuba diving tours to exciting locations along the beautiful Kona Coast. Fair Wind’s tradition of excellence and aloha has earned a well- deserved reputation as the first choice among residents and visitors for ocean adventure fun. Fair Wind is ranked the No. 1 activity in Kailua Kona by Trip Advisor.

Photo courtesy of James Wing

via Wing named official Hula Kai underwater videographer  | Hawaii247.org | Hawaii 24/7.

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.

via In A Manta Rescue a female Manta Ray recognizes the man who saved her life.

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

Please visit:
On-the-Edge Magazine: www.on-the-edge.com
MyScubaGuide.com: www.myscubaguide.com

via Remote exotic diving adventures worldwide.

Boycott and Blame Shark Killers

The DATA Project: Divers Against Touching Animals

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.

Leslie Thomasson
Dive The Galapagos
WebSite: www.divethegalapagos.com
Blog: www.divingthegalapagos.com
E-Mail leslie@divethegalapagos.com