As usual during our manta safari, this morning we woke before the sun. After a quick breakfast, and with the warmth of coffee or tea energising us, it was time to prepare our cameras and diving equipment, ready to explore the underwater world of northern Komodo National Park.

Our plan today was to survey four divesites. First was The Arch, a secret site with amazing caves and channels; then Manta Point where we hoped to find mantas feeding; Crystal Rock, a place with colourful corals and a chance to record reef sharks and Napoleon wrasse; and finally Gili Lawa Darat, a sheltered site and the ideal place for the interns to complete the night dive component of their PADI Advanced Open Water.

At Manta Point, we adopted our V formation to increase our chances of encountering mantas. In the V formation, the survey leader takes a position at the front, and the other members of our team spread out to either side. We keep a distance of about 5 meters between divers. Using this technique we were able to record four reef mantas, and I succeed to take one manta ID photo.

Between our second and third dives, the interns practised their manta briefings. Ida gave a great manta briefing to all of us.

Overall, today’s dives were challenging but also fun. We experienced several different habitat types, and the interns had a chance to enhance their dive and manta survey skills.

Ida practices her manta briefing