Manta rays are generally shy creatures that will only attack humans if they feel threatened. There have been very few cases of manta rays attacking humans, and those incidents have been attributed to either carelessness or misunderstandings on the part of the humans involved. In fact, they are known to be quite docile and gentle. If you’re ever lucky enough to see a manta ray, you’ll never forget it! These amazing creatures are truly one of a kind. Manta rays are not considered endangered at this time, but they are threatened by pollution and overfishing in some areas. They give birth to one or two babies at a time, which are born alive and able to swim on their own. Manta rays have a lifespan of about 20 years. They are graceful creatures and are a popular site for scuba divers. Manta rays are harmless to humans and are often seen swimming close to the surface of the water. They often congregate near coral reefs, where they can find plenty of food. Manta rays can be found in tropical and subtropical waters all over the world. If you’re an underwater photographer, then this dive trip will be a dream for you and your portfolio! (As long as you aren’t afraid of the dark.RELATED: 15 Incredible Airbnbs in Stinson Beach This pelagic charter takes divers into deep water at night to find tons of cool bioluminescent critters. If you really want to take night diving to the extreme, Big Island Divers also offers a “ blackwater” dive. There are so many different species of marine life that come alive at night – things you would never be able to see during a day dive are suddenly swimming right in front of your face. While you can’t see much, what you can see is truly magical. All you can see is the few feet below you that are illuminated by your flashlight. However, I had the opportunity to do a quick traditional night dive after my manta dive as I was completing my advanced open water certification and that’s when I truly experienced the difference between day diving and night diving.Īs I swam further and further away from the manta ray scene I was deathly aware of the pitch black engulfing me from every side. I’ll be honest in that the manta ray night dive is hardly a “night dive” just because there are so many lights on that you still have some pretty decent visibility. The idea of being in the open ocean with all kinds of different marine creatures and not being able to see them made for a really thrilling experience. Like I said at the beginning of this post, night diving originally terrified me. They pose no risk to humans they’re filter feeders, so they have no teeth and they don’t have stingers like other rays do, so there is absolutely nothing to be worried about when hoping in the water for a dive with these guys. Kona’s largest coastal resident manta ray, “Big Bertha”, is approximately 16 feet wide and weighs over 2000 pounds! And at the time I’m writing this post, there is even a pregnant resident manta ray visiting divers every night.Īlthough they’re massive, manta rays are truly gentle giants. Kona’s manta rays have been recorded as large as 25 feet wide from wing tip to wing tip and weigh about 100 pounds per foot of wingspan. Kona is where more than 100 coastal resident manta rays call home and stick around all year long, so no matter when you’re visiting Hawaii, you have a pretty good chance of running into these amazing creatures. Night diving with manta rays in Kona is actually ranked as one of the top ten diving experiences in the entire world! That’s more than 1,250 unique species of marine life that can only be found on Hawaii’s reefs. Hawaii is home to so many different species of marine life in fact, 25% of the island’s underwater species are exclusive only to Hawaii. I booked a one-tank manta night dive charter with Big Island Divers in Kona and set out just before sunrise for a dive that I will never, ever forget.ĭiving in Hawaii, regardless of what time of day, is an incredible experience. So I worked up my courage and took the plunge just after sunrise and man, am I glad that I did! Full disclosure, I’m scared of the dark on land, so being in the dark at the bottom of the great big ocean was a terrifying thought.īut, I knew that there was absolutely no way I was going to visit the Big Island of Hawaii and not experience the once in a lifetime opportunity that is diving with manta rays at night. However, diving at night was still something that did not sit well with me. Scuba diving has taken me all over the world and given me the opportunity to make so many unforgettable underwater memories. Since becoming certified I’ve gotten over my fear of the ocean’s depth and now find being weightless underwater one of the most calming experiences ever. Two years ago, I decided to face my fears of being at depth and got my PADI Open Water Certification. Learning to dive is hands down, one of the greatest things that I’ve ever done.
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