MantaWatch and Aquatic Alliance joined forces in Komodo National Park last week to raise awareness about manta conservation and encourage divers to get involved in photo tagging manta rays.

During a manta safari with Dive Komodo, divers visited 11 sites and successfully photo tagged over 24 mantas. We are in the process of matching these ID shots against our database, but from a first analysis it appears we have some new sightings, as well as a number of known individuals.

Aquatic Alliance is working to defend threatened marine wildlife and habitats in Nusa Lembongan, Bali. Working in partnership with local organizations and stakeholders, they are helping to understand and protect mantas, mola molas and sharks. Most importantly, Aquatic Alliance strives to educate local communities, tourists and decision makers about the value of their natural resources.

We hope that this initial alliance will lead to bigger and better manta conservation, and a concerted effort to sustain manta populations throughout East and West Nusa Tenggara.