We drove to Jack's Diving Locker to get fitted out with wet suits. Craig also got a snorkel mask, because I was using his that he had rented from Snorkel Bob's when we first arrived. We signed the disclaimers -- always a fun thing to do. We got in the van and drove over to the boat. We met our Captain -- now I can't remember her name. She looked like she was in her 20's, along with our two guides. We listened to all the rules.
We boated out about 45 minutes to the spot. Just off the rocks by the Kona Airport. The water was 35 feet deep. We rode out in front of the boat, with the wind in our faces. I loved it. I like being on boats. To get there we had to hold onto little railings and walk the 6 inch path around the bridge. In the harbor it was no big deal. The ocean was really calm that night, so really no big deal to get back, but I was still a bit nervous. We got our wet suits on, received our assignments -- which board we were on, and got into the water. The sun was going down.
So, to be perfectly frank, I was getting into the ocean knowing it was 35 deep where we were and it was getting dark.
The only way I think I would ever be talked into doing anything so crazy -- because let us remember that I am afraid of water that is over my head (and 35 feet of water is way over my head) -- is that I really, really, really wanted to be a part of swimming with MANTA RAYS!
The deal is that they have SCUBA divers on the bottom with lights shining up and then the snorkelers are on top with lights going down. The lights attract plankton, and the plankton attracts the mantas. They come to feed.
They are careful to point out that mantas are wild animals and they cannot guarantee that they will come the particular night that you choose to get in the water to see them. Hence, no refunds.
So we go out with hope that they will be hungry that night.
Mantas have no teeth -- or very small ones. They are filter feeders. They have so stingers in their tails. They are not aggressive. The guides are there to help you and keep you safe. They were careful to say that if you are scared, they can point you to the correct boat, or swim you over there -- even hold your hand.
I knew the basics about mantas before I even went to Hawaii, so I knew they would not eat me.
Craig was the first one in the water. That meant I was the second. I got in, and swam over to the surf board. The surf board was modified -- there were eight holes cut in it where they had inserted heavy duty flashlights. It was "mounted" on a frame of PVC pipe. We hung onto the pipe. The idea was to float and keep our feet out straight and our feet pointed to give as much space under water as possible for the mantas.
I had the five other people of my group -- family members -- as well as the guide to keep me on track and safe.
We swam out around the other boat that brought the SCUBA divers in and entered the light zone. We saw schools of fish -- not the colorful reef fish, but the larger silver fish of the ocean.
Within about five minutes, we had our first encounter. A manta ray, attracted by the plankton that was attracted by our lights, came and started swimming in upside-down somersaults to eat. Maybe backward somersaults is a better way to describe it. And where we were not supposed to initiate contact, if they touched you it was all good.
I think everyone on our board was honored by being touched by a manta that night. They would swim so close to the board that it was almost like we were laying on top of them.
Our mantas were the smaller coastal rays. They would grow to have a wingspan of about 12 feet. The bigger ocean mantas can grow to have a wingspan of 22 feet. Our rays were all black on the back, the ocean mantas have white patches on their shoulders.
Each manta has a unique pattern of spots on their tummies that people use to identify them. Just off the coast of Kona there is a population of about 200 individuals.
I chose this picture because you can see right into their mouths. I saw the gills, looked into their eyes, and stared into their gullets.
After the dive, our guides told us the average number of mantas on any given night was 2. At one time I saw 9 together. Just in our little corner of the light field. The guide estimated that there were at least 20. I don't have the real number. But, needless to say, our outing was extraordinary -- for us and the guides who took us.
We were in the water for over 45 minutes, and I would have stayed longer. It was simply magical.
I was touched several times. A couple of times, I could feel the tail caress my leg as he swam in his somersaults. Once I could feel him on my hand. It sounds like Craig got touched more than I did, but I was happy with what I was graced with.
Josh is so jealous. He thinks we are so not fair that we didn't take him. Boaz felt better when I told him he had to be at least 10 to be able to go.
This was the highlight of the trip for me. Simply amazing.
