![]() In fact, “Manta“ is a Spanish word for blanket or cloak and describes their fluid body. ![]() Their bodies are soft and made up of mostly cartilage. Manta Rays are highly intelligent, giant disc shaped creatures. It is even regarded as one of the best night dives in the world! Read below to learn more about it and how you can sign up and join a manta ray night snorkel during your next Hawaii vacation. Retrieved January 10, 2017.Swimming with Manta Rays at night is by far one of the most popular tours and activities in Kona, Hawaii. ^ "Manta Pacific Research Foundation".^ Manta Pacific Research Foundation : Conservation Programs Archived June 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.^ "Manta ray night dive locations on the Island of Hawaiʻi".Professional Association of Diving Instructors. ^ Must Dive Sites: The Manta Ray Night Dive in Kailua Kona, Hawaii.^ Best Dive Sites: Top 15 Dives to Experience Before You Die.^ a b Jack's Diving Locker : Dive Sites.Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. in Hawai'i Place Names: Shores, Beaches, and Surf Sites. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hoona Bay Hawai'i The Big Island: 35 Themed Itineraries Beaches, Activities, Family Travel. ^ a b c Luci Yamamoto Gorry Conner (2008).Manta Pacific Research Foundation web site. ^ a b "Manta Ray Night Dive in Kona, Big Island".Manta ray diving tours on Hawaii occur year-round they are not limited by seasons. Most dive trips depart from Honokohau harbor, which is only a short trip to the dive site. Several dive shops in Kailua-Kona and offer one-tank or two-tank dives. The guidelines are strictly enforced by dive operations that conduct this dive. As a result of manta rays' fragile biological composition, guidelines to protect the health of the manta rays at this dive have been set forth by The Ocean Recreation council of Hawaii and PADI's Project AWARE. The Manta Pacific Research Foundation's mission is to "study manta rays in their natural habitat, conduct scientific research, provide education programs for the public about manta rays and the marine environment, and to establish and promote global manta ray conservation". ![]() Local organizations, such as the Manta Pacific Research Foundation, try to protect the local manta rays and educate the public about manta rays and other sea life. Manta rays in other parts of the Pacific Ocean have been hunted by fishermen as a result of the increasing demand for manta ray gill plates. With the increasing popularity of this dive the conservation and protection of manta rays has become a priority for dive operators and organizations. Conservation and the Manta Pacific Research Foundation Manta birostris feeding In 2017, the 3 most popular sites to do the manta ray night dive on the Island of Hawaiʻi are (from south to north) (1) in front of the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay (formerly known as the Kona Surf Hotel, the dive spot is called 'Manta Village'), (2) in front of the Kona International Airport at Keahole, Hawaii (also called 'Garden Eel Cove' or 'Manta Heaven'), and (3) between Kawaihae harbor and the Kohala resorts. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors states that "dive magazines the world over consistently rank Kona's manta ray night diving as one of the best things you can do underwater". Travel guides often rate this dive highly. The frequency of these dive trips increased over the years with many dive operations offering trips most days. In 1992, dive operators began occasionally taking scuba divers to areas such as the Kona Surf Hotel for manta ray encounters. History įor decades travelers to Hawaii observed manta rays from restaurants and hotels along the coast, such as the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the in 2002 closed Kona Surf Hotel. Other sea life includes garden eels, Hawaiian turkeyfish, and Heller's barracuda. Located just off the coast of Keahole Point (near the Kona International Airport), it attracts scuba divers for the abundance of manta rays. Ī popular site is just off the coast of Hawaiʻi Island called Garden Eel Cove, as well as the Kona Surf Hotel. While diving, scuba divers shine lights up while snorkelers shine them down creating a column of light which attracts millions of minuscule plankton, which in turn attracts the manta rays. Some days no manta rays are seen while on days with high plankton levels upwards of a dozen may be present. Two manta rays feeding at night Description ĭepending on the amount of microscopic plankton present, the number of manta rays will vary. A manta ray night dive is a scuba diving excursion to view manta rays.
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