We did two dives at Blue Magic, so we also saw a variety of fish, and a couple
of Giant Manta Rays!
Water flows through the 40 - inch (1 meter) wide mouth
of a giant manta and over the ray's gill arches, the white triangular parts running across the bottom and top of its mouth, five on each side.
Not exact matches
Now, scientists with the University
of Washington's Friday Harbor Laboratories have discovered enough differences in the filters to be able to identify the
giant manta and eight
of the devil rays using the part from inside their mouth that has been dried and is being sold.
Our group had up close and personal encounters with no less than seven
giant mantas all set amidst a patchwork
of diverse and thriving hard and soft corals.
Underneath the water's surface though, is a kaleidoscope
of coral and other aquatic life including tropical fish, dolphins,
manta rays, sea turtles and
giant clams, which you can swim with.
Apart from the
mantas we saw a few
giant frogfish, cuttlefish,
giant trevally, juvenile silver sweetlip, turtles, bamboo sharks and many other big and small reef fish in every color
of the rainbow.
The cool temperatures also attract bigger fish like
giant mantas and sharks, and the visibility is also very good most
of the time.
But, no matter what you call it, this is one
of the world's hot spots for big animals and
giant manta encounters in open water.
Occasionally in the months
of December to February
giant manta rays can be seen gliding close to the surface.
From snorkeling along with millions
of sardines and whale sharks in the Philippines to snorkeling with twelve
giant manta rays in Indonesia.
Snorkelling with around 12
giant manta rays at the end
of one dive.
The boat ride out offers the opportunity
of viewing dolphins,
giant mantas, turtles and Humpback Whales (seasonally).
Large schools
of fish feed and breed around the unspoiled reefs and, during different times at the year depending on the season, commonly caught fish include:
Giant Trevally, Trevally, Spanish Mackerel, Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, many Snapper varieties and Coral Trout to name the main vartieties If you're lucky on your trip you'll see
Manta Rays, Flying fish, Whales and Dolphins — not rare sights, depending on the season and conditions.
The remote area is usually teeming with aquatic life
of every description - from
giant mantas, dolphins, whales and turtles... to the beautiful Moorish Idols, Sargeant - Majors, and the delicate sea - horse.
Experiencing amazing marine life including
Manta Rays and
Giant Clams as you scuba dive and snorkel as part
of your work, working with local villages to build their skills and knowledge
of their local marine environment.
She felt a
Giant Pacific
Manta ray's smooth exterior as it accidentally brushed up against her during the night manta snorkel, as well as the slimy surface of a sea cucumber and the spiny texture of a sea ur
Manta ray's smooth exterior as it accidentally brushed up against her during the night
manta snorkel, as well as the slimy surface of a sea cucumber and the spiny texture of a sea ur
manta snorkel, as well as the slimy surface
of a sea cucumber and the spiny texture
of a sea urchin.
Currents here are much stronger as well, providing an ample supply
of food for the larger pelagic's such as
giant mantas and the elusive whale shark.
Aside from the astounding reef life, Koh Bon is one
of the best places to see big pelagic creatures; both
giant Mantas and Whale Sharks are local residents here.
Marine life here includes both hard and soft corals, crinoids
of many colors, a wide variety
of reef fish and there is always the possibility
of spotting the oceanic
giants like Whale Sharks and
Manta Rays.
I fondly recall hyperventilating over the fact that we were snorkeling in the middle
of the sea as around 12
giant manta rays swam around us.
During your dives here, expect to see lots
of sharks (reef and leopard), turtles,
manta rays,
giant groupers, and barracudas.
A sandy bottom with beautiful coral covered mountains, Deep Turbo is a fantastic dive with the chance
of spotting some bigger fish life coming through such as the occasional
Manta Ray, Eagle Ray, Reef shark or
Giant Trevally.
And best
of all, you don't have to be an expert to access it; even if you've never dived before, like me, you can complete your Open Water Diver course and share the same waters as sharks,
giant turtles,
manta rays, and colourful corals and fish, all on your first day.
It was such a magical and humbling experience to swim with these gentle
giants... Needless to say you have to keep a safe distance, but a big
manta swam over us and it's one
of my most cherished memories.
Dive spots such as the Catalina Islands & Bat Island offer a stunning variety
of sea life such as
giant manta rays, moray eels, white tip reef sharks, live coral & much more.
Dragging your eyes away from the shark spectacle you will see
mantas soaring above you amidst batfish and large schools
of giant trevallies.
Blow bubbles with Blue Crab at one
of the best places to scuba dive, Las Catalinas islands in Costa Rica, where you can find whale shark,
giant manta rays, white tipped shark, and much more underwater wildlife at Las Catalinas!
We'll take you anywhere on the island: you'll see magical corals
of Menjangan, rare Mola - mola and
giant Manta rays.
Experiencing amazing marine life including
Manta Rays and
Giant Clams as you scuba dive and snorkel as part
of your work, working with local villages to build their skills and knowledge
of their local...
These volcanic rock formations are home to a large variety
of sea life, including white tip reef sharks,
giant manta rays, eagle and devil rays, sea turtles, octopi, lion fish, moray eels and sea turtles.
Highlights
of the new itinerary include snorkeling at Molokini's undersea volcanic crater, a night snorkel with
Giant Pacific
Manta Rays, watching whales and dolphins and guided hikes exploring scenic areas on all four islands.
Big Catalina («Catalina Grande»): One
of the favorite sites for seasoned (and brave) divers, Big Catalina is known as the best spot to witness whitetip reef sharks and
Giant manta rays.
A sandy bottom with beautiful coral covered pinnacles, Deep Turbo is a fantastic dive with the chance
of spotting some bigger fish life coming through such as the occasional
Manta Ray, Eagle Ray, Reef shark or
Giant Trevally.
Scuba dive with the swirling tornado - like formation
of Barracudas, the big - eye trevallies, the thousands silver jack fishes, the
giant size parrot fishes, the numerous turtles and many others such as
mantas, eagle rays, tunas, scalloped hammerhead sharks, whale sharks and 3000 more species
of fish.
If you want to go through a great combination
of snorkeling, sailing and nature, head for Marietas Islands National Park while the guides look out for
giant manta rays, sea turtles...
We saw
giant manta ray jump out
of the ocean as well as a whale jump in the bay!
Designed with families and groups
of friends in mind, a journey on Tiger Blue is guaranteed to be packed with unforgettable moments whether it be searching for dragons on Komodo, spotting birds
of paradise in West Papua or snorkeling with
giant manta rays over the coralgardens
of Raja Ampat.
The 110 metre (360 foot) ship sank in 1911 and is now home to turtles, sea snakes,
giant trevally, groupers,
manta rays, sharks and thousands
of tropical fish.
While on the trip, you might catch fine glimpses
of dolphins, whales,
giant manta rays, sea turtles and sharks!
Swim with the whale sharks in the summer, the gentle
giants of the ocean; watch sea turtles and
manta rays.
Dolphins,
manta rays, reef sharks,
giant trevallies, mobula rays circling the boat lights at night, a brooding jawfish with a mouthful
of eggs, pygmy seahorses, frogfish, ghost pipefish, very healthy reef fish life and innumerable crustaceans and invertebrates.
As well as, schools
of big - eye trevelly, barracudas, banded sweetlips, snappers, clown fish, tomato anemone fish, Harlequins, surgeonfish,
mantas, ancient
giant clams, butterflyfish, archerfish and many others.
Tubbataha Reef Marine Park — The country's largest marine habitat, it hosts
giant manta rays, sea turtles, and hundreds
of reef fish species.
At Ari Atoll, come face to face with
giant mantas, hammerhead sharks and large schools
of barracuda and batfish.
Nusa Penida is where you will find
Manta Point and the amazing
Manta Rays, some
of indonesia's best diving and Crystal Bay, which in the high season (July till November) you may be lucky enough to see one
of the
Giant Oceanic Sunfish (Mola Mola) that are so sught after by divers.
Plus, what many divers hope to see are the
giants of the ocean — whalesharks are seen here, as well as
manta rays.
Plus
giant oceanic
mantas come here to be cleaned on top
of the ridge.
Other interesting creatures that dwell in the region include Olive Ridley Sea Turtles,
Giant Pacific
Manta Rays, Black - tips, Morays, Octopus, and a variety
of mollusks and crustaceans.
It is very common to see white tip sharks,
giant mantas,
manta rays, fish such as buffoon,
giant grouper, morays, and a great variety
of many other species
of different sizes and colors.
You will see volcanic rock formations, with various hard and soft corals, abundant marine life with schools
of Snapper and Jacks, plus White Tip Reef Sharks, Angel Fish, Moorish Idols, Parrot Fish, Puffer Fish, Octopus, Eels, Crustaceans, Sea Turtles and in season the
giant Manta Ray.