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The Grace of Manta Rays
- kirrent 6y agoDouglas Adams wrote about his experience swimming with Manta Rays in an article which is, to me, amongst his best bits of writing (https://douglasadams.com/dna/980707-08-a.html https://douglasadams.com/dna/980707-08-a.html). As a kid living on a boat on the east coast of Australia I have some happy memories of watching manta rays feed at the surface nearby. Happy once I'd realised that the wing tips silently breaking the surface weren't shark fins. They really do move absurdly gracefully, unlike anything else I've ever seen in the ocean.
- ciguy 6y agoI had the privilege of diving with Manta Rays in Hawaii a few years ago. They come to a specific bay to feed on plankton each night. Seeing these 1000 pound animals glide through the water so peacefully was surreal. In some cases they came just a few feet from us which was somewhat terrifying as they really are massive. We had to sit down and hold onto rocks on the ocean floor. They are harmless but could easily injure someone accidentally due to sheer size.
- lytfyre 6y agoA few years ago I did probably the same dive, just off the big island. Sharks and whales are both _impressive_, but they don't have the sheer alien grace about them and their movement. It remains one of the most fantastic experiences I've ever had, above or below the water.
- ciguy 6y agoSame for me. I rate it among the top 5 experiences of my life. And I have been traveling the world doing all kinds of adventure sports for many years.