Manta Action!

I tell you one thing i don't understand...

The "High" season here in Yap is Jan through April which is manta mating season. True, the numbers of mantas, 15-30 at a time, is pretty darn impressive and amazing to see and watch. But, that occurs in Miil Channel which is somewhat deep and close to the mangroves and usually not the best viz....

In the summer the mantas move over to Goofnuw Channel, much closer to the mouth of the ocean and a lot shallower than Miil.

What does this mean? Simple.. clearer water and longer bottom times!!! Definitely the best time of year for photo and video (also the time of year i shot the manta train photo last year...)

And, a lot less divers in the water!!!!

So, here is a teaser video i shot the other day with the Z1. This is all taken on one dive... i usually do 90 min dives there only 30-50 feet!!! I love the summer season!

Thanks Wags for hosting this vid, sorry its in WMV so you Mac people i ain't uploading it twice!!!! Took me almost 4 hours to upload this one.......

Enjoy and any and all comments welcome

Summertime

Xcellent !!

Days like that are what make it all worthwhile.

Wish I was there.

Thanks Peter!!

You were supposed to be....

Wow X Wow !

That opening scene is great... Thanks for posting.

Makes me want to go back to Socorro and play with those guys.

M.

I know..... I get keeping sidetracked - its such a bummer

RA last month, Bali & Komodo in 10 days , Coral Sea & RIbbons end of Sept & October , Rotto & then Thailand November and on it goes.

My friend Eric says there are no mantas in Yap... just bald mantas at 1.7kbps... any truth to that?

! ! ! ! A W E S O M E ! ! ! !

And Manta Boy lives up to his name.

Definitely the best manta footage I've ever seen matey.

Michaela is very impressed too.

Damn that Drew fellow - that's just plain mean!

And as for Mooney galavanting thither and hither - don't you ever rest??

<<jealous, freezing grumbles>>

Drew...

you have friends?

Anthony and Michael.. thanks! and michaela too!

Keep it comin' Mike.

Can't watch the bloody thing but sure it's a belter. Goofnuws the "Muts Nuts" when it hits right, gotta love it. Best memory from there is almost getting my Avanti Quattros taken off by a grey reefy, musta got out of bed the wrong side.

DVD is on the way tomorrow morning. Plus a few sounds for you to listen to ya nugget......

Poss to v.poss see you September.

M

I tell you one thing i don't understand...

 

The "High" season here in Yap is Jan through April which is manta mating season.  True, the numbers of mantas, 15-30 at a time, is pretty darn impressive and amazing to see and watch.  But, that occurs in Miil Channel which is somewhat deep and close to the mangroves and usually not the best viz....

...snip...

yeah poor viz agreed , but high season for the mantas? i beg to differ :D:D

guess i will have to come back in low season then...

/paul

Mike, Really quite excellent. Beautifully shot; I appreciated that you seemed to stay in the same place throughout the entire dive and let them come to you. Super job; need to get to Yap one of these days

Steve B)

Beautiful Mike. I would probably have been in there puffing like a steam train, scaring them off. That's with the Phenom, right?

Killer stuff, Mike - Thanks for posting. I've always just taken for granted that Mantas and Yap go hand in hand. When I was watching it, I was wondering why they all congregate there (other than for mating season) compared to other areas in Micronesia where sightings are more random?

What's Yap got that they dig so much?

Bryce

Thanks guys...

Yes Paul... i suggest Aug or Sept...

Nick, yes, forgot to mention that is the Phenom in all its glory! The new manual white balance button and the flat port... my dome is currently receiving the refit. And you will notice.. No vignetting!!

Steve, yep, let them come to you is always the best way.. i have loads of stuff where i am aiming and shooting and one manta and another comes over my head from behind literally 1 foot overhead...

Bryce, not sure really.. i guess its the mangrove channels, mantas from the region come here in the winter (like spawning salmon!) so i guess it just goes to hold that quite a few will stick around year around....

Mike,

Nice stuff and love the vis! Great cam handling, white balance and stability. I would love to shoot some of that stuff in Yap. How consistent is the vis and manta appearances during summer (what months)?

keep it up!

Shawn

Mike:

Awesome stuff! Big graceful mantas in warm water with great viz -- can't beat that! And Eric said there weren't any mantas in Yap!!! One of these days I have to get my act together and get down there!

Doug

Shawn, thanks for the comments, ya this time of year the best, i would shoot for aug or sept around the full or new moon as a great time to be here (can't do anything about weather mind you... always a crap shoot at this time of year)

Doug, i kept the mantas locked up when eric was here.. didn't want him stealing my magazine opportunities..

Very nice, Mike. Barb and I had such a good time there last month and this video made us want to return all the more.

Ed

Hey Ed,

Look like Mike finally got a few shots in focus.

Nice stuff.

T