Aloha Reader, Q: Are manta rays mammals? A: No, they're not - they are most definitely fish. Q: Ah, so they lay eggs? A: Yes... but it's not what you think... This is one of the most frequently asked questions at our Manta Ray Moonlight Swim - and one I love to answer as it opens up a fun conversation about this magnificent fish. And then, there is this one word I usually avoid when talking about the mantas' reproduction, even though it’s an important part of what they are: “ovoviviparous”....
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, After the devastating wildfires in Maui and the destruction of Lahaina on 08/08, I needed a few days to regain my emotional balance. A smaller fire also occurred on the Mauna Kea Beach hotel's grounds, so all together, it hit very close to home. I've received many heartfelt messages from around the world, and I want to thank everyone who thought of us here in Hawaii. We are doing well. I'm not one for sending emails for the sake of sending emails, but the last couple of weeks...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, Sure, mantas are the majestic and awe-inspiring "gentle giants" of the ocean. Watching them slowly move through the water is incredibly zen (which you know if you went on a moonlight swim with us or watched the manta ray meditation videos!). But... Manta rays also have a fun and quirky side to them. They get born as burritos, they poop and vomit, they try to fly, and many other things - we compiled the most fun facts about manta rays in this article. I guarantee it will make you...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, If you want to swim with manta rays, the West Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii should be at the top of that list. And that's not because it's where we are located! 😉 Hawaii is not only home to some of the most accessible manta ray populations, but the night-time snorkel or scuba dive experience along the Kona coast is unique thanks to the manta ray viewing sites. Established over 30 years, powerful lights attract plankton at night, attracting manta rays who feed on the...
almost 2 years ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, Manta rays will often (unexpectedly) jump out of the water, "fly" in the air for a couple of seconds, and then come back down with a loud "flop". This phenomenon is called breaching. Years ago, when Youtube had just started, I found a video of a manta breaching and thought, "it would be cool to see that myself".The very next night, I was preparing to film a group of divers kicking from the boat to the dive site. In the distance, I could see the glow of the underwater "campfire"....
almost 2 years ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, I don’t know about you, but I LOVE makeovers. Seeing the before and after pictures of any project and the transformation that comes from it excites me tremendously. A makeover is pure motivation and inspiration, two of my favorite things. Today I am very excited to share with you …[DRUMROLL PLEASE]… our newly designed website!!!! We went live a few days ago, and I am happy to share our beautiful, plenty simplified, and kinda slick new “home”. Find out more about each manta One...
almost 2 years ago • 2 min read
Aloha Reader, Fun fact? Manta rays eat a LOT. They have to eat 12% of their body weight per week in order to sustain themselves. And since their food is tiny (most of their diet is composed of small and microscopic organisms), they end up eating whenever it's available - by opening their cavernous mouth and swimming through plankton-rich areas. Open Manta Ray Mouth Over the course of the millennia, they have developed pretty intricate and interesting techniques to find their food and feed -...
about 2 years ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, This Thursday 02/23/2023, the first public hearing to regulate the manta ray industry along the Kona Coast in Hawaii is taking place, and it would help the manta rays tremendously if you can submit testimony in support of it. If you have been to Kona and joined any of the activity providers that offer the manta ray tours, you most likely have wondered why so many people and boats are allowed at the viewing sites. Or, you are in the planning stages and feel overwhelmed by almost...
about 2 years ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, If the subject line didn't make much sense, allow me to explain: "anthropomorphism" is the attribution of human characteristics to animals and objects. It's something we often see in fairy tales (like the Big Bad Wolf), fables (you might have heard of the Ant and the Grasshopper), or movies (who doesn't love Rocky Raccoon in the Guardians of the Galaxy?). It's something people tend to naturally do with real-life animals. So often, children learn that dolphins love to laugh:...
about 2 years ago • 1 min read
