Manta Ray
Saturday, November 5. 2005
Kona, HI (Nov 4, 2005)
We are still in Hawaii. The last few days have been quite busy, with Mayli obtaining her SCUBA open water certification and a visit, yesterday night, to the Volcano national Park to see the active lava flow falling into the ocean. It was quite an impressive sight. Not as impressive, though, with respect to what we did tonight.
We went out at sunset from the Kona harbor to see the Manta Rays. These are huge animals (same family of sharks) that feeds of plancton and that are regular visitors of the Kona coast. We jumped into the water at night, and after a brief stroll we reached a place 35 ft deep where some powerful lights have been set up. The lights attract the plancton, and the plancton attracts the Mantas. And boy, there were many mantas (at least a dozen by my estimate). Even though underwater photography is a tough business that I cannot really do (for lack of proper equipment and training), I had with me Mayli small digital camera, with the waterproof case we bought before leaving Boston. This is probably the best shot in the whole series: nothing special compared to what a pro with the right light and camera would do but, hey, it is a photo I made, so has a special personal value, given the memories attached to it.
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I think it’s mystical, magical, and captures the feeling of being underwater. Great.
I think it`s great! Matt used the word mystical, and I agree: I get this “alien-feeling”, the lights, the green cast, the shadows... It`s really cool!
Btw, is there somewhere you don`t bring that camera of yours? Is it glued to your hand?
Btw, is there somewhere you don`t bring that camera of yours? Is it glued to your hand?
This is indeed mystical. What a powerful feeling to witness such beauty. I miss the Islands, I must return again soon, especially since we received out first snowfall last evening.
Underwater photography is another avenue I would like to explore someday. I suspect it is rather expensive for the proper equipment, though. I was inspired after seeing the winning photo club’s entries in the Nature’s Best photo contest -- incredible. The winner was a club (in San Diego, I think) devoted exclusively to underwater photography.
Very cool photo. If you made it with inexpensive equipment so much the better. You can make good photos with any kind of camera. The key is knowing what the camera’s limitations are and working within them. You’re pretty close to the edge here I think, but it works. Fun stuff.
You certainly won’t catch me jumping into the water at night with creatures that big drifting around. 
The waters off Tobago here are actually quite famous for spotting rays, especially up north.
The waters off Tobago here are actually quite famous for spotting rays, especially up north.
Very mysterious. Foreboding. As marc commented above, you won’t catch me jumping into the water at night either. However, I’m glad you did. Great image!
this is so amazing, such a gorgeous and yes mystical feel to it ... really beautiful. must have been so amazing to be under there in the night skies ... wow!!
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