Charismatic dive guide Hila Jansen is passionate about manta ray conservation, both for their aesthetic value and as a tourism asset. Hila was the winner of the prestigious Top Manta Guide Award during Manta Month in Komodo 2012, and we met up with him between dives to talk about manta conservation.
Hila Jansen “doing the manta”
“Manta Point, or Karang Makassar, is where we see the mantas. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you might see mantas in other places. But most of the year the mantas are in Manta Point”.
Hila explained that when the tide rises, strong currents push the plankton rich waters of South Komodo northwards onto the shallow reefs of Manta Point.
“This is why the mantas spend all their time here. There’s a lot of plankton here, it’s easy for them to feed.”
Unsurprisingly, Manta Point is a highlight for divers who travel from around the world to see the majestic manta ray in its natural environment.
“I love to see the mantas dancing,” said Hila. “It’s really, really beautiful. Just sitting there with the mantas swimming above you.”
Andy Harvey presents Hila with the Top Manta Guide Award
Hila has been guiding divers around Komodo National Park for a long time. Long enough to realise the value of manta rays to his industry. He is concerned that overfishing will reduce both the manta population and the dive tourism trade.
“The mantas are really beautiful animals. It feels such a pity to kill them to sell to other countries just for money,” Hila explained. “Most divers like to see mantas. I think if they are protected, there will be more people coming to visit us here and diving with the mantas.”
Next year, countries around the world will vote whether to protect mantas by listing them on CITES–the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species. This is an important milestone for manta ray conservation, and will help regulate the international trade that is decimating manta populations.
“Mantas are very, very important. Most divers like to see mantas. Just let them live, don’t kill them and don’t sell any mantas to other countries. Please let them live.”
Add your voice to Hila’s by signing the petition to Save Manta Rays in Indonesia, and help Hila and his guests continue sharing encounters with Komodo’s dancing mantas for years to come.