Hawaii2012-nightdive with mantas

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Dec. 26th 2012, Kailua-Kona

One of the most amazing dives of my life. Years ago divers discovered during nightdives, that mantas feed on the plancton that is attracted by the light of their flashlights. Also the mantas are not at all scared by the divers. Over the years these nightdives have developed into one of the top attractions on the Kailua-Kona Coast. From the manta's perspective they have educated divers to bring divelights to attract plancton... I don't think they are interested in us. We just carry the lights...

Just when we entered the water, the mantas were already there and in full swing. They were attracted by the lights of the snorkelers, who were in the water before us... Watch these 3m-5m big fish turning loopings below the snorkelers!

Now some more videos showing you how these gentle giants fly around. Just beautiful!

see how close they get!

During the dive with the mantas, a poor confused and scared pufferfish was trying to hide behind some stones and sea urchins. Then I saw an eel coming around the stones... He is known among the dive guides as Frank, the friendly eel...
Well, he's not so friendly if you are a pufferfish...
But the little guy made it to a happy end. watch it!

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Photos

manta looping around
this is how it starts. Snorkelers are already in the water, pointing down with their flashlights. The manta tries to stay in the cone of light and flys loops beneath the snorkelers...Amazing!

manta from below
just starting with the descend and you have these wonderful creatures above your head

turning in
this guy is just starting to turn in towards me.

two mantas crossing
one closer to me the other swimming of in the opposite direction.

so close!
here you see that only a part of the manta is in focus. its souch a large animal, maybe 3-4m wingspan.

manta just passed
She was flying just a few centimeters above our heads.

look at the eye
reflecting the light of the flashlights

a look into the gills
unfortunately the gill rakers are used in chinese medicine and mantas are killed because of that. Stupid humans!

looking at me
those are the moments when you start thinking, what is this other creature thinking of you?

flying in
but this one has not opened his mouth now

into the mouth
this manta is missing one of the cephalic fins, which was cut way because of a fishing line entangled in it.

another view from the side
how do these animals feel the bubbles of the divers streaming along their bodies?

there she comes again
feeding time!

the manta with the amputated head fin
look at her gills!

a manta's mouth
a perfect view into the mouth of a manta. The inlet of a jet engine is a poor copy of this body design, evolved over milions of years...

thats close
but normal down here, less than an arm's length above you