The last four weeks have passed extremely quickly, and all too soon both Manta Month in Komodo and the 2013 MantaWatch Internship Program have drawn to a close. It does not seem possible that one month has already passed since our four interns–Ranny, Riza, Satria and Vidlia–arrived in Labuan Bajo knowing little about manta rays or their conservation.

Over the past month these four young Indonesian marine leaders have demonstrated their dedication, hard work and passion. They have worked together to overcome challenges, including rough seas and language barriers, and to share new experiences. In the process they have become knowledgable manta ray experts, experienced scientific divers, confident public speakers, and true ambassadors for manta ray conservation.

The final day of the Internship Program was no exception, and everyone spent the day busily preparing for the evening’s Manta Month Awards ceremony. There was data to analyze, a video to prepare, and, most nerve-wracking of all, presentations to practice. This would be a first for each of our interns–presenting in English to a full house!

But all the hard work paid off. More than 30 people attended the Manta Month Awards ceremony at The Lounge Bar and Restaurant in Labuan Bajo to listen to an exciting and informative presentation from Ranny, Riza, Satria and Vidlia about their experiences and results over the past month. And their preliminary results were:

• 35 manta surveys conducted;
• 114 manta encounters recorded; and
• 63 mantas identified!!!

Then to one of the most important parts of the evening. The Manta Month Awards, presented to the individuals and dive operators that contributed to the success of Manta Month 2013.

This year’s prize winners were:

• Adrienne Salcou – Most Manta Encounters, awarded to the MantaWatcher who took the most unique mantas photographed in a single day.
• Hila Jansen – Most Manta Surveys, awarded to the MantaWatcher who conducted the most manta surveys during Manta Month.
• Nick Longfellow – Top Manta Guide, awarded to the dive guide tagged in the most manta surveys on MantaTrax during Manta Month.

Prizes were kindly donated by:

• Blue Marlin Komodo – Erasable underwater slate and Eco friendly shopping bag.
• Divine Diving – Scuba Komodo dragon carving
• Dive Komodo – Diving Flores Book
• Kanawa Island Diving – Dry Bag
• KDC – Dive guide’s rattle and pointer
• The Lounge – Dinner for two
• Treetop – Dinner for two
• Wicked Diving – Locally made journal and recycled wetsuit water bottle holder

Manta Month Awards 2013 winners

Manta Month Awards were also presented to the following supporters of this year’s program, who played a vital role in its success.

The evening closed with the premier screening of this year’s final Interns’ Video Diary, filmed and produced entirely by Ranny, Riza, Satria and Vidlia.

This year’s MantaWatch Internship Program is over, but the journey is only just beginning for our interns. As MantaWatch Alumni, they have the skills, knowledge and responsibility to play a critical role in spreading awareness and supporting manta ray conservation in Indonesia. And based on their performance over the past month, I am confident that they will more than live up to this expectation.