Seeing marine animals in their natural habitat comes with beautiful sights and unique species. When visiting tropical seas, you can swim among huge animals by taking a manta ray snorkeling Kona trip. While you may observe the creatures from a boat or swim along the top of the water, there are even more amazing sights deeper in the water. A snorkel trip allows you to explore deeper and watch the manta rays as they swim over you.
What is Involved in a Manta Ray Encounter?
Few things can compare to snorkeling with a manta ray. Despite their massive size, mantas are friendly creatures. Manta rays have the greatest brain of any animal, and their intellect and curiosity make encounters with them very remarkable. Because of their keen vision, they will frequently approach snorkelers to ‘check them out’.
Initially, their sheer size and wide jaws might be intimidating to snorkelers. After seeing these beautiful creatures feed or clean in their native habitat, terror quickly changes to fascination.
Are Manta Rays Safe to Snorkel with?
Did you realize that manta rays and sharks are related? That is correct! Does this imply that they can hurt you in the same manner as a great white shark can? No.
Manta rays don’t have teeth, and they must squeeze their little food out as they move. They have enormous mouths and are constantly gathering food as the water runs over their gill rakers. A manta ray has little possibility of mistaking a person for food or attempting to play with a human appendage. However, you should note that the size of a manta ray is scary.
They are enormous, up to 10 feet wide, and may be alarming. However, they are similar to butterflies. Manta rays fly gracefully over the water, and even though they’re big, they’re safe.
Who Can Participate in Manta Ray Guided Snorkeling?
Snorkeling with manta rays is an activity that almost anybody can perform because it is a guided activity with personnel on hand to ensure both safety and a fun time. If you can swim properly or have prior snorkeling expertise, you can go on a manta ray snorkeling Kona trip. Physically, you must be able to sustain some mobility in the water while remaining calm throughout.
You’ll be alright if you can maintain your breathing peacefully and don’t stress out because of the darkness or the chilly water.
Benefits of Snorkeling with Manta Rays
Check out some of the benefits of viewing the creatures from below and why you should include it in your manta ray snorkeling Kona trip.
See Silhouettes with Backlight
The primary light given by manta rays will often originate from above. Sunlight will shine through the water during the day. A boat will shine spotlights straight on the sea at night. When swimming immediately beneath the manta rays and looking up, the backlight creates a silhouette against the light.
The lighting effect highlights the outlines of the manta rays as they travel across the ocean. If you have an underwater camera, the effect may provide a one-of-a-kind image, especially if you have a large group of manta rays swimming together.
See Manta Ray’s Facial Features
Another reason to go on a manta ray snorkeling Kona trip is that you can clearly see the creatures’ facial features. A manta ray’s upper side has a smooth surface and a potential pattern across its skin. While it is amazing to look at, the manta ray has even more intricacies when viewed from below. The manta ray’s eyes, gills, mouth, and underside pattern are visible.
Some of the creature’s delicate motions may be seen as it moves underwater. Underwater, a manta ray may have an entirely distinct skin pattern.
Learn How Manta Rays Feed
Manta rays frequently feed on plankton in the sea, and a view from below can illustrate how manta rays feed. Plankton can be seen shining when the water is darker. The light effect will provide vivid sights of manta rays sucking in food and feeding as they travel through the sea. You can watch their jaws open and get a good look at them.
Request an underside view of the manta ray when going on a snorkel excursion to get a one-of-a-kind experience. Even if you have an underwater view, you may still enjoy other views on the same trip.