2014 The Big Island Underwater

Night dive with manta rays. This is an absolutely awesome experience. Divers gather on the bottom and shine bright lights which attract plankton. Plankton attracts mantas. During my dive, 8 mantas showed up, including the 3 largest ones swimming in these waters. Females are much bigger than males. The largest female of all is "Big Bertha" with a wingspan of 16 feet. She's estimated to be between 60 and 70 years of age and she's still breeding. Big Bertha took a liking to my video light and repeatedly grazed my head as she swooped in over me.

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Night dive with manta rays. This is an absolutely awesome experience. Divers gather on the bottom and shine bright lights which attract plankton. Plankton attracts mantas. During my dive, 8 mantas showed up, including the 3 largest ones swimming in these waters. Females are much bigger than males. The largest female of all is "Big Bertha" with a wingspan of 16 feet. She's estimated to be between 60 and 70 years of age and she's still breeding. Big Bertha took a liking to my video light and repeatedly grazed my head as she swooped in over me.

6.4 mantas