Dance Of Mantas

I was debating whether the title would be appropriate as we are still in "low season".... but having at least 12 mantas on a trip, 11 that we can call by name is a whole different story. 

So yes, this was a Dance of Mantas trip, and every single diver participated in it!

Back to the symbiosis of strangers on board. A real interesting combination of personalities and walks of life, all united in Fiji. 

And Manta season seems to be upon us, as this trip ticked so many divers' bucket list sightings, which included these amazing "flappy flappies" and hammerheads, all in one day!

They charged head on to beautiful yet feisty Vatu-I-Ra, and even if at times "currenty", we had amazing dives with all the vibrant colors and hunting fish. Even some active sharks at the afternoon dive.

A complete and absolute show. Mantas at Wakaya were determined to make us all believers. “It was a religious experience”- Tim

We had up to 10 individuals, cleaning at once 4 mantas, seemingly dancing for us all. There were even mantas feeding at the channel in between the grey reef sharks, barracudas, and a hammerhead shark.

Photo by Tim - mantas getting cleaned

Thanks to several of our guests and the dance these creatures performed for us, we got belly photos all around and we successfully identified (with Luke's help, Manta Trust) our 10 individuals.

Photo by Tim - Billy Jean

Riley, melanistic female, very inquisitive and friendly. Mickey Manta, one of our newest juveniles, male chevron, with more energy than any other. Clarita, Billy Jean, Snoot, Nai'a Blue and Torantino were big melanistic females Chris and I had not met yet, so that was a lot of fun.

Same for Tasha Angel, melanistic huge male and Juanita, huge chevron female. 

Photo by Tim - Clarita

Photo by Tim - Naia Blue

Photo by Tim - Snoot

And M467, beautiful female melanistic manta who had no name until now, was named by Tim, Delilah, with majority approval from the rest of the guests. 

Photo by Tim - Delilah

Photo by Tim - Torantino

Richard, with his incredible sense of humor, best described these creatures as "B2 Bombers"... I mean yes... just slightly more peaceful I would guess.

More hammers, nurse sharks, white tips and greys at Sea Mount Mount Mutiny. Amazing corals; soft and hard, as well as hunting trevally and Spanish mackerel. 

Photo by Tim - Blue finned trevally

Photo by Mike - Grey reef shark

Photo by Tim - Makogai village

Kansas never leaves people indifferent... and Schoolhouse just... amazing visibility, fish, sharks, and not only a fly by manta but 20 minutes with beautiful Chilli (melanistic female manta) as she got cleaned! She was very talented at connecting with all our divers! Everyone felt like that special one... she is a bit of a flirt... 

Photo by Mike - Chilli --- Fun fact: Chilli was seen first by Big Mo years ago and named her Chelly, in honor of her daughter, but lost in translation it set on Chilli 

At Namena we stopped counting hunting fish, grey sharks and white tips. Even a fly by eagle ray! Incredible gathering of parrotfish and surgeonfish. We can only imagine its mating season as its not a common every day occurrence. 

Everybody happy and mesmerized by our Dorys and their bright electric blue, covering the whole top of the bomie. 

Not our photo yet a beautiful representation of our fly by Eagle ray

Photo by Forrest - Orange fin anemonefish

Photo by Forrest - Blue dragon

Photo by Forrest - beautiful fan

Photo by Forrest - FIji's anthias and corals

Our little pygmy sea horses riding the current as usual, on their hydroids. Leafy scorpion fish find by Jacqueline; golden mantis shrimps (1-3 depending on who you ask), juvenile black ribbon eel, teeny tiny, and our resident 2 blue ribbon eels hissing out of their hole. 

Not our photo but she was IDENTICAL- Golden mantis shrimp 

Photo by Tim - Blue ribbon eels

Seven sisters brought everyone turtles and juvenile rock mover wrasse!  "Great turtle experience!"- Tim

Photo by Mike - Mo getting his teeth cleaned by cleaner shrimps

Photo by Mike - Raggy scorpionfish

Photo by Tim - Fire file clam

Photo by Tim - Puffer

Photo by Tim - sleepy anemone with pink anemone fish 

"I loved out first manta dive (Wakaya) but seeing her (Chilli) yesterday was so unexpected!" - GIna

"Highlight of trip? The coral is amazing, the amount and variety of fish as well, but if I had to say one thing, it would be seeing the banded pipe fish!"- Matt

"We had a golden mantis shrimp (which she calls golden mantas) but we also got to snorkel with the whales!"- Charlene 

Charlene, Forrest, and myself were privileged after the last dive of the day to not only enjoy a huge pod of Pilot whales but we got to go in the water and see them under! Thanks Clayton! 

"I love how fishy it has been; colors and never ending schools of fish! And, as a senior diver, the currents were manageable, so super happy about that!" - Terrie. "Who are you calling senior?!"- Richard (husband). 

"There was a school of cornet fish! Who sees that??? (Schoolhouse)" - Richard

"Not only diversity of fish but also the dive sites are so different from one another. " - Cynthia

"I don't think a manta has every come so close to me! We had a special connection." - Tom (I was there, they did!)

Our lovely ladies, Ana and Susana

Vinaka vakalevu everyone!

Hope to "sea" you soon!