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| Manta Ray in Flight |
A few days ago on a shore snorkel in south Maui I noticed a bloom of
some kind of plankton and mentioned that I thought the possibility of
seeing a manta ray might be higher. Then low and behold a few days later
who should I run into along the outer reef at Makena but three manta
rays!
I've been hearing reports of frequent manta ray sightings by snorkelers
in this area lately. Back when I ran trips here our manta encounters
were few and very far between. So I was pretty shocked to see three good
sized mantas circling back and forth over the north finger at Turtle
Town. These coastal manta rays have a pretty small range here in the
Hawaiian Islands, usually picking and sticking with one side of one
island. Hopefully this means that more manta ray encounters will happen
in the future!
Since I was snorkeling I had the flexibility to dive up and down, next
to and underneath the rays. This bouncing to different depths is
difficult on scuba so for charismatic megafauna encounters this is who I
like to shoot. I like the downward angle shot here to the left because
it shows multiple mantas, however I'm always a big fan of trying to swim
under than animal, let it pass over me, so I can shoot up and include
with sunlight hitting the surface.
I've been hearing reports of frequent manta ray sightings by snorkelers
in this area lately. Back when I ran trips here our manta encounters
were few and very far between. So I was pretty shocked to see three good
sized mantas circling back and forth over the north finger at Turtle
Town. These coastal manta rays have a pretty small range here in the
Hawaiian Islands, usually picking and sticking with one side of one
island. Hopefully this means that more manta ray encounters will happen
in the future!
Since I was snorkeling I had the flexibility to dive up and down, next
to and underneath the rays. This bouncing to different depths is
difficult on scuba so for charismatic megafauna encounters this is who I
like to shoot. I like the downward angle shot here to the left because
it shows multiple mantas, however I'm always a big fan of trying to swim
under than animal, let it pass over me, so I can shoot up and include
with sunlight hitting the surface.
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