Manta rays are beautiful and majestic animals that have a life-changing effect on people who meet them. I want to protect them so humans can experience their transformational power for generations to come! My goal is to inspire people so they take action to protect the mantas' ecosystem and oceans all around the world.
Robots that swim (almost) like manta rays
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One of the most amazing things about manta rays is their effortless gliding through the water. This goes beyond just swimming: they've developed elaborate techniques to feed (alone or in groups), they've been seen jumping out of the water (called breaching, and it's pretty spectacular!), and they're known to cross vast distances at high speeds. A long time ago, I sold a VHS tape (remember those?) to aerospace engineers, and they bought it for the sole purpose of simulating the mantas' unique swimming abilities. Unsurprisingly, engineers continue to be inspired by the manta rays' movements and create underwater robots that mimic their motion patterns. The results are pretty amazing: manta-inspired robots can reach a speed of 6.8 times their body length per second, move up and down through the water column, and operate with an energy efficiency similar to that of giant manta rays. And it's not just happening underwater; engineers are applying manta ray principles to aircraft wing design, water filtration systems, and artistic creations. Well-known LEGO hobby designer Berthil van Beek was so inspired by watching Amanda Ray during a night swim here in Kona that he created a kinetic sculpture with moving fins and a light-up heartbeat - watch it here on YouTube!
Next time you see a manta ray gliding through the water, think about this: you're looking at millions of years of natural evolution that's now inspiring tomorrow's technology. Pretty cool, right?
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Martina Wing
Manta rays are beautiful and majestic animals that have a life-changing effect on people who meet them. I want to protect them so humans can experience their transformational power for generations to come! My goal is to inspire people so they take action to protect the mantas' ecosystem and oceans all around the world.
Aloha Reader, So many kids say they want to work with animals when they grow up, but most end up doing something completely different. Our newest crew member, Ashley Jacob, didn't. At 12, she watched a movie about a dolphin with a prosthetic tail and decided she wanted to work with marine life in rescue and rehabilitation. Today, she's a swim guide at Manta Ray Advocates while finishing her master's thesis and training students in California to continue the elephant seal research she began....
Aloha Reader, As we enter 2026, I find myself reflecting on what motivates me after years of working with the manta rays. It’s not only the thrill of encountering the gentle giants underwater - which never loses its magic - but also the realization that people like you genuinely care. It’s inspiring to see that care translates into meaningful action. We can’t do everything, and none of us can be held responsible for the state of the world, but we can all take action in our own way. For me,...
Aloha Reader, For 27 years now (and counting), I have witnessed people from all walks of life as they meet the Kona manta rays in their natural habitat. The swim can be surprising and, for many, even transformational, and afterwards, at the beach shack, it often leads to deep conversations about life, our planet, and the relationship between humans and nature. For a long time, I've been looking for a way to share these stories - and now it's happening: today, I'm releasing the first 3 + 1...