Fabi Nompas is a senior dive guide with Dive Komodo, and the winner of the prestigious Manta Month Award for the most mantas identified in a single day. Fabi photographed a staggering 13 mantas in one day during Manta Month in Komodo 2012. We caught up with him to talk about diving with mantas responsibly.
Fabi Nompas, winner of the 2012 Manta Month Award.
Fabi’s hobby is his life, and he knows Komodo as well as anyone. He has been working in Komodo for over ten years: as a captain, a sports fishing guide and a dive guide. His love of the marine environment has been fueled by his knowledge of the amazing underwater world of Komodo National Park.
With his experience and knowledge of Komodo, Fabi knew the best time and place to photograph mantas in Komodo. As well as winning a prestigious Manta Month Award for photographing the most mantas in a day, MantaWatch presented Fabi with a fantastic Canon S100 digital camera to help him continue to monitor Komodo’s manta populations.
“The most important thing for me is not winning the camera, but knowing more about Komodo’s manta population,” Fabi explained. “I really support this kind of project. I have been diving Komodo for 10 years and I think we really need to count the mantas and to know where they are migrating from.”
Sadly, Fabi believes that Komodo’s manta population is declining. He recalls a time when more than 50 mantas would be seen at a time, whereas now he thinks 30 is the average.
“Mantas should be protected by the government, for the whole of Indonesia and especially by our local government. This is important for local tourism. Komodo is already famous, but the mantas encourage even more people to visit Indonesia, and especially Komodo.”
Fabi is passionate about diving in Komodo, conserving biodiversity, and educating junior dive guides.
“Komodo is where we can enjoy our hobby, be happy and also earn an income. That’s why it’s important that dive guides and guests follow the rules. No touching and no chasing mantas”.
One of Fabi’s many great ID photos submitted during Manta Mont.
We asked Fabi if he had any advice to help fellow MantaWatchers take better manta ID photos.
“I don’t know about in other areas, but in Komodo the mantas don’t like bubbles and don’t like being chased,” he explained. “You have to give them space, and wait for the mantas to come to you. Stand by with the camera, take one or two shots as they pass, then let them turn around. You have to wait patiently and exhale slowly. If there are too many bubbles the manta will probably not come back.”
Fabi considers himself lucky to love his job. He cautions aspiring dive guides everywhere in Indonesia: “Many people want to dive for the money, but if it’s a hobby as well as a job, you’ll enjoy more success.” Diving with mantas is more than just a job!
See more of Fabi’s amazing manta photos on Manta Trax.