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Manta Research Departures on January 10th, February 14th and March 13th  2012

On the Manta Ray research trips we will dive at sites where manta rays are most frequently encountered. Then we will try to “tag” the Manta Rays – through pictures! With the photos, and accurate descriptions of any marks, scars and gender – we add all our picture to a worldwide database for Manta Ray sightings. All you have to do is take a picture of the upper side and share the other data. The is pooled with hundreds of other encounters and helps track migratory patterns, population density and much more. That is, if we find Manta Rays!! These, like many creatures, do not abide the will of man and we can only intend to have a Manta encounter, not guarantee one. We will however guarantee you interesting lectures by our staff with lots of information on the life, physiology and threats of these amazing creatures. Tell me more!

Manta Ray Research Tour

Manta Rays are massive, serene and unearthly. They glide through the currents without effort, they are sometimes 5 meters across and yet their migratory patterns are unknown? so little was known about Mantas that scientists were recently surprised when a Manta Ray gave birth to a live child in an aquarium. Giant – yet passive – they eat plankton and are completely harmless to humans. None-the-less our actions still impact their lives.

Underwater photography (Photo identification) is effective, efficient, and non-intrusive and is the underlying methodology behind most of our long-term studies. Each Manta Ray sighted on the local reefs is identified by a ‘fingerprint’ of markings on their ventral surface as well as by distinctive scars. Once individual manta rays have been identified, their details are logged in a computer database and their re-sightings tracked over time. This helps not only with tracking migratory patterns, but also helping identify (through scarification) hazards and threats.

Ecotourism has proven to be an excellent way of generating a positive, sustainable balance between protecting populations of animals and creating an economically viable form of tourism. With people coming to a region to see a resource as well as bringing attention to that resource has proven to be a very effective method of protection. In 2002, the Island of Hawaii was reported to have generated over $2.5 million US dollars in combined revenues from manta related activities in their coastal waters. Research in the Maldives indicates that the local economy generates approximately $7.8 million US dollars in combined revenue from manta ray related activities in their islands. Here in SE Asia, where overfishing and little protection is offered – we need to do as much as we can.

Why they Manta Ray Reseach Matters

Currently there are no comprehensive management programs for manta rays anywhere in the world, yet they are listed by the IUCN as ‘near threatened’ to extinction. This conservation assessment has not been updated since the discovery of two distinct species. The recent reclassification of the genus has major implications for the conservation assessment of the two species. Each species faces different and specific threats in various regions of the world, and the worldwide IUCN status of the genus requires urgent revaluation in light of this revision.

On our Manta Ray research trips we visit the sites where they are most commonly sighted. By taking pictures, observing behavior patterns and documenting all encounters, we are contributing our knowledge to a much larger database. All this is done in cooperation with and under the training of the Marine Megafauna Research center, and it’s founder Andrea Marshall.

Learn About Manta Rays

Among things you have the opportunity to learn:

• The Life and Times of the largest ray in the world
• How to interact and treat such large creatures
• Reducing your impact on the Reef – through active training like improved buoyancy and through use of biodegradable products
• How and where products using these creatures are sold – and how to avoid their use
  

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How to upload your photographs to the global database, track the sightings of your Manta Ray and even to “adopt” your Manta Ray! Ask us for more details

Wicked Diving offers a unique opportunity to benefit the local community, improve the world around us and have a great diving vacation! We use 2% of all income to support local projects that support the local community, marine research or marine conservation (or all three!). When you dive with Wicked, you make a difference. Please read up on our various projects, and policies on the Ethical Diving page. Did you know the eggs on your trip will be from free-range, organically fed chickens? And the Honey and Jam will be from the Baan San Fan Orphanage?

Where is the Manta Ray Tour?

Currently these tours are offered from our Thailand base, but we hope to extend the research efforts to Indonesia in the immediate future. Aside from the vast selection of marine life we see daily on the dive sites, we hope to experience the Manta Rays up close – so we have chosen several specific sites where they are most frequently seen. With our friends in the diving community and the network of dive boat captains – we will know where the most recent sightings have happened – so our itinerary is totally open to change! We hope you understand! Just a few of the reefs we will visit:

Richelieu Rock

One of the most famous dive sites in Thailand, Richelieu Rock is an isolated pinnacle to the east of The Surin Islands. Being known for Whale Shark sightings in Thailand is not Richelieu’s only claim to fame. Amazement awaits divers in every square meter of the dive site. From colorful soft corals to huge sea fans, sea hard corals and sea anemones- the topography here is spectacular. The diversity of small and large creatures and marine life is un-matched anywhere else in Thailand and is a favorite location for underwater photographers. Marine life spans from ghost pipe fish, frog fish, harlequin shrimp, seahorses, and rare nudi branches on the macro side of things, to cuttlefish mating, varied moray eels, octopus, chevron and giant barracuda, giant groupers, and manta rays for those looking for a possible encounter of the larger species.

 

Koh Tachai

A solitary island located 20 km north of Koh Bon, Tachai has white sandy beaches and is home to two interesting dive sites – the southern pinnacles and the eastern reef. Manta rays visit this area for feeding and circling around the submerged twin pinnacles, and some divers have seen Whale Sharks here as well, along with leopard sharks. Clearly a magnet for the “larger” marine life it’s also possible to spot jenkins rays, whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, swarms of chevron barracuda, batfish, and turtles. Exotic species like the oceanic triggerfish can also be found here.

Koh Bon

Know as a cleaning station for manta rays, there is a high chance of seeing them here – particularly along the western ridge and northeast outer reef. Koh Bon is an isolated granite islet northeast of the Similan Islands, and is home to many types of sharks such as leopard, whitetip, blacktip and the occasional grey reef tip sharks. Some divers have been known to see a nurse shark lying under the coral heads if they are lucky.

The Manta Ray Research trip

There is always a dive site briefing given before every dive. Plenty of meals are served each day in between the dives and we have a minimum surface interval of 2 hours in between the dives. The choice of dive sites and jump-in times always depend on the weather, surface and underwater conditions and the experience level of you – our divers! With the Widescreen TV, Hammocks and sundeck available to all guest you will always have time to relax!

Manta Ray Research Tour

SCUBA Diving – 19,900 Baht