Manta, Manta. On Thursday 13 March and Sunday 16 March, Dive Asia encountered several Manta Rays during our Raja Noi daytrips. During the Thursday cruise, all of our divers had the pleasure to dive twice with the majestic ray almost shoulder to shoulder. During the second dive of the day, there were two Mantas present and on the third dive we dove with a huge Manta Birostris. On board were many certified divers as well as seven Open Water students and two Discover divers. All of them enjoyed swimming with the beautiful Mantas.
During the Sunday dive, we once again had two Manta Rays at the “South Tip” of Raja Noi and our divers also had the opportunity to observe the Gracie Rays.
Mantas have a wing span up to seven meters and can weigh as much as 2000 kilograms. Compared with many other rays, Mantas are not poisonous. They are peaceful animals who eat plankton. They spend most of the time close to the lighted waters near the ocean surface and therefore are easy to observe by divers. Similar to the Eagle Rays, Mantas use their fins much like a bird’s wing. They reach a top speed of twelve kilometers per hour. Mantas are known as underwater acrobats and are able to jump a few meters out of the water.