As the sun rose this morning, my alarm beeped several times, telling me that it’s time to get up. The sky was only just beginning to lighten, covered by a few wispy clouds. I stood on the deck, watching at the first warm rays of sunlight began to peak over the cliffs of Padar Island, signalling that a new day had begun.
Everybody set up their diving equipment for our first manta survey of the day. We were back at Karang Makassar and Manta Point, but this time on the west side. It was a strong drift dive, and while we found mobula rays, bumphead parrotfish and a green turtle, unfortunately there were no manta rays.
Next we tried the east side of Manta Point. We descended to 9 meters, and drifted across rubble and white sand. A few minutes later, we heard Fabi signalling to tell us a manta was near, and we formed our formation near to the seafloor. Soon, three formations of mantas cruised past us, their mouths open as the fed, gently swimming in the current. We got into position to take our manta ID photos.
And then, a few minutes later, more mantas! This time two melanistic and one pregnant manta swam slowly near the seafloor, just a few meters from my position. I was busy checking my camera and still trying to capture ID shots from the previous group of chevron mantas. I did not even notice the black mantas until a huge shadow fell over me and I looked up to see two mantas glided over my head. One did a barrel roll, showing me its huge black belly, and looked very happy!
Rafid takes a manta ID photo
Two more mantas came past, swimming in a circle around us and trying to observe who we really are. They seemed so smart, as they looked at us! After one or two laps, they swam away, but not long after and they were back again. Fabi told us that we don’t need to chase after the mantas to get an ID photo. If we behave quietly and patiently around the mantas, and let them control the encounter, they will come to us to show us their ventral markings and let us take an ID photo.
Our next manta survey was at Mawan, where again we were not disappointed. I managed to get ID photos of 12 individual mantas today! A tiring day, but I enjoyed it a lot! It was so amazing to see the mantas swimming peacefully in clear water.
After such a successful day of manta surveys, we decided to have a short break from the ocean. We anchored in Gili Lawa Darat, and hiked to see the horizon of Komodo Island separating the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The picture of the open ocean surrounded by the yellow, dry, grass-covered islands and doused in the soft colours of sunset was beautiful. Two boats sailed past, adding even more drama to the picture. Our hard work paid off! We took a lot of photos, as we watched the sun set between the islands, before walking down the hill under the dark sky full of bright stars.
Andy, Vidlia and the Interns enjoying the sunset at Gili Lawa Darat
Our day was not over yet. A night dive amongst the shallow corals of Gili Lawa. For many of us interns this was our first experience of night diving. What an adventure, and we found squid, cuttlefish and even a hunting octopus!
