Mantas After Dark

Manta rays are massive! Much bigger than you can tell from this image.

I have been freediving with manta rays on three separate occasions and all three are permanently etched in my memories. Let me tell you about them.

The first time was when I became a freediving instructor, which is its own tale of trials and tribulations. Somewhere in the middle of that ordeal, we found ourselves out in the water in a small rain storm. Grey skies, waves, the rain beating down on us, our instructors beating the day's lesson into us, and then I looked down... and saw two gentle giants in slow, rhythmic barrel rolls mirroring each other in what could only be described as a dance. Two manta rays, blessing us with their presence. In fact, they hold a spiritual and protective significance in Hawaiian culture.

The second time we encountered manta rays was with Dylan Currier at a manta ray "cleaning station," a spot mantas are known to visit during the day. Why don't I just show you?

Before ever freediving with wildlife, I went through Martin Stepanek's wildlife encounter training. This is as much to protect the animals from us as us from the animals, and it works! It's precisely what allowed us to spent time with mantas without scaring them off.

And it was absolutely incredible. And it became even more amazing when a second manta ray joined.

Snorkeling above mantas is just not the same. This is the kind of unforgettable experience that freediving unlocks, coming eye-to-eye with these gentle giants on their terms in their home.

It's one of the best entry level aquatic adventures we offer. Definitely reach out about manta ray diving.

The next time I encountered manta rays was on one of the night dive with mantas experience in Kona. They're quite popular, but we had special access. Now, trip operators allow scuba divers to sit on the bottom and snorkelers to float, grabbing the floating rig at all times. It's a controlled experience. We had a backstage pass, freediving with mantas as they danced and fed.

(Night diving with mantas is frowed upon. The boat lights attract plankton at night, which essentially feeds the mantas outside their usual feeding times, potentially altering the natural behaviors of the species. This should be futher investigated and potentially curbed.)

I floated there as five Volkswagen-sized manta rays danced in the shimmering lights. It was like being in a whole new world.

This writeup, even the videos, do little to communicate the real life experience. Being down there, from my body's own ability, and meeting the wildlife in their natural environment... It was indescribable.