Scuba Diving With The Manta Rays Kona Hawaii

Scuba Diving with the wonderful Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, Manta birostris, is something really special. The largest recorded Oceanic Manta Ray was more than 25 ft (7.6 m) wing-tip to wing-tip and weighed over 5,300 pounds (2,400 kg). Manta Rays have a short tail and no stinging spine. They are very acrobatic and you can see them execute aerobctic manuvers while they fly through the water all around you. They will even jump (breach) from the sea and are excellent for underwater photography. It is interesting to realize that, Manta Rays possess the largest brain-to-body ratio of the sharks, rays and skates (Elasmobranchii), with ratios nearing what is can be found in mammals rather than in fishes.

Smeltzer conducted 2 dives, one in the afternoon where he recorded 17 Mantas gliding next to the coral reef and a following night Manta Dive, where there were thirty one Manta Rays. The Rays feed on plankton that is in turn drawn to light. The scuba diving companies give individuals flashlights and also place a few extra lights in the water and you merely sit in circles in approximately thirty five ft of water while the Mantas swim all around you. It is unquestionably an unforgettable dive.

This is a amazing place for an underwater photographer. The Manta Rays are literally all around you and the problem is to be capable to prepare for, see and shoot your shots very quickly. During the night dive, Smeltzer takes photos at a fairly high shutter speed 1/320 while his strobes are aimed wide of his lense to diminish spots on the images caused by the considerable amount of plankton in the water column.. The lights draw plankton and other very small marine creatures which in turn draws the Mantas. This poses a bit of a problem to get a clear shot however it can be achieved with a little persistence and practice. The flips and rolls of these gentle beasts assists you to create some very compelling marine life photographs.

Breeding amongst Manta Rays is comparable to other closely related rays. Mating takes place close to the surface, generally within the first meter of the water column. It begins with the male chasing the female, for up to half an hour, both are often closely followed by a group of other hopeful suitors.. Such mating trains seem to be caused by a full moon. The male bites the pectoral fin of the female ray and then moves its claspers into the cloaca to mate. The developing eggs stay within the female Manta Ray's body for possibly as long as 12 months and hatch in side the "mother" so that she gives birth to live young. The average litter size is two pups, and there is frequently a two year span between births (source - Wikipedia).

Adults can be readily recognized via their considerable Triangular pectoral fins and protruding u-shaped fins, forward extensions of the pectoral fins that project anteriorly on either side of the head. These cephalic (u-shaped fins) are approximately twice as long as its base is wide. The measurement lengthwise of both cephalic lobe, from tip to the mouth, is approximately 14% of the disc width. These fins are rolled like spirals while swimming and flattened while they are eating. This ray has smooth skin, a broad, squarish mouth situated at the front of the head, and its tail doesn't have a stinging spine

It is an opportunity not to be missed the next time you happen to be on the island of Hawaii or if you are traveling to Hanifaru, a small lagoon located near an unpopulated isle in the Maldives or any other Manta Ray diving location. It is an astounding chance to encounter some truly wonderful marine animals.

Read additional dive site evaluations on Smeltzer's blog and see other underwater photos on his website and follow him on Twitter @ images2inspire.The pool is open...