Night diving with manta rays in Hawaii (Big Island)
1-A little biology to better know the stingrays
Manta also called the devil of the seas is the largest of the rays, up to 6 foot wingspan.
This is a gregarious animal who frequent the surface waters near the reefs. They live in groups, seldom alone in tropical waters around coral reefs.
It is a peaceful animal, completely harmless.
Manta rays have two large wings, short tail and on each side of the head, two horns a horned animal cephalic referring to his name or "sea devil".
The animal has on the ventral side, five pairs of gills.
Manta rays are dark blue but can often be black spotted with white. The ventral area is usually white sometimes spotted with black.
The tail of stingrays has no sting.
The manta ray eats only plankton and nekton. It held its cephalic horns that direct food into his mouth wide open, the water is then filtered by the gills, which recovers the zooplankton.
Of fish, including Remora, hang on the line to travel without getting tired and béneéficier food left by their host.
2-Sets of conduct
- Do not touch the stingrays. The line possesses a protective mucus. When you touch the lines, you otez this thin protective layer and the line becomes more susceptible to skin diseases
- Not to pursue them. The Manta is a peaceful animal that will come of itself to the light of your lamp eat the plankton
3-Diving with manta rays
This is a unique experience.
Beginners and experienced divers can set vivrent this unforgettable moment watching the majestic ballet of manta rays.
For years, the Sheraton (Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort) turns toward the sea of powerful lights which attracts the plankton, to the delight of manta rays coming feast.
Each diver is also equipped with a beacon which also attracts the plankton. The manta rays come swimming, spinning above the divers, forming a beautiful ballet.
These gigantic and majestic animals, make this an extraordinary memory and time can be the most beautiful diving
4-See manta rays in fins, mask, snorkel (Manta Ray Snorkel)
It is quite possible for non-divers to come at night, watch the stingrays swim.
For this, we go for a Kayak journey of about 200 meters. Arrived at the site, everyone starts to water, lamps lit because it is the lamplight that attracts the plankton to the surface. When the plankton becomes dense, manta rays come to eat the abundant food swirling near swimmers. The show is fascinating
We provide fins, masks, lamps, body and buoys for safety.
It is important to resist the temptation to touch them
