One thing I was determined to do on this Hawaiian trip is to snorkel with the manta rays. Phil and I left Kona at dusk on a boat tour that went north a little ways past the airport.
We're here, and the surf looks a little rough, but I'm determined to do this.
While the sun is setting, the captain demonstrates how to put on fins. Duh! Or maybe he's just showing off his legs...
Two surfboards surrounded by PVC pipe are put in the water for us to hold on to.
We're each given a little yellow light to attach to our snorkel. There are many different tour boats here, and each one has a different color.
Because the water was so rough, the boat with the scuba divers left. Uh-oh...
The surfboards, and some of the boats, have bright lights underneath them to attract plankton, which in turn attracts the manta rays.
As soon as it got dark, into the water we went!
Because of the rough water, I didn't really get any good photos or videos, but did see manta rays. Here's the best video I got. Don't blink or you'll miss it.
This is a video from another tour boat, taken on a different night. You can see how the manta rays turn upside down right under the boards, and how we were hanging on to the boards. The mantas are 12-13 feet wide! It was really an amazing adventure!
Wow, I can see why this was on your list! What an amazing sight, thanks for haring!
ReplyDeleteThat is just neat. We swam with dolphins but never manta rays.
ReplyDeleteReally, really (REALLY) neat! An amazing adventure and not a piece of rusty stuff to be seen anywhere! :c)
ReplyDeleteEven after the fish attack, those big mouths didn't bother you? You're so brave.
ReplyDeleteSorry you had such rough water ... but the experience must have been amazing. This is something Mui would want to do for sure ... me, well .... I can decide when we eventually go to Hawaii.
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