Summertime in Yap

Well the mantas have pretty much moved on over to Goofnuw Channel now after the winter season in Mi'il. I have been out there a couple of times in the last 3 days and the mantas have been going off to say the least. Today had up to 6 cruising the cleaning station, they were there for my entire 80 minute dive, nice!

Am really enjoying this cleaning station as well, it is a pinnacle with the channel floor at approx 50ft (16m). The top of the cleaning station is only about 30ft of depth. The mantas cruise in a big circle, they come upstream, sit on the top and get cleaned for awhile and then drop down the other side to usually circle around and do it again!

This is hugely fantastic for photography because they are above your head all the time as opposed to fairly parallel when in Mi'il. I am loving this summer season!

Here are a couple of shots from the last few days, its only at the half moon and a little windy as well so i can't wait for the wind to drop and the full moon next week wooooohoooooooo!

I think Peter Mooney should be out in the next few days so hopefully i can show him a manta or 12

I've only one word to say. And I'm not allowed to type it on Wetpixel...

Have a great summer, Mike.

I've only one word to say. And I'm not allowed to type it on Wetpixel...

 

 

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Thanks Ales...private messages are accepted...

Brilliant Mike, I reckon you might 'ave shot a new avatar!

Wow! (That is allowed :-)

I like the sunburst shot - fabulous.

Cheers

James

Mike, I'm so envious. 80 minute dives. I really hate coming up after an hour with half a tank but no one ever lets me dive that long. Either I have to dive with a buddy or they say they will leave me behind if I stay down that long.

BTW the pictures arent bad either.....

Great shots, Mike. Like James, I'm partial to the sunburst. I can't wait to make a trip out your direction -- just have to convince the wife!!!

You mentioned the Mantas "moving on". I wasn't aware that there was a "season" for the mantas in Yap. What is the best time to go?

Doug

Thanks folks, yes it is nice to have the boat sitting on the mooring above you and knowing that it will stay there for at least the surface interval...and the fact i work here means i go diving sans buddy (other than the ones named Nikon or Sony) all the time. Especially great on Nitrox.

Doug, sorry about the confusion on the mantas, they don't actually move away, they just go from a channel on one side of the island to a channel on the other side. We get trade winds in the winter so they go to the leeward side then, and in summer again on the leeward side.

Great thing is it only takes about 15 mins to get between the two of them as it is a rather small island. During the winter, especially Jan-Apr they mate at Mi'il, so they congregate in groups of up to 30. In the summer a little calmer, not as many mantas (5 or 6 at a time max i think) but better photo ops so it is 6 of one half dozen of the other if you ask me

Thanks again for the compliments.

Mike

Thanks, Mike. Again -- great photos as always. Keep 'em coming!

Wow!!!!!! Great pics, congratulations!

That's IT! I am going right down there today and buying that 12-24, and somehow convince the mantas to take a cruise to Cayman. HA!

Great stuff as always Mike!! Now get out there and shoot some more!

Aurabest,

john

Thanks John, i do like the 12-24mm, i love a nice wide lens but really appreciate the zoom capability as well, comes in handy when running into certain creatures.

As for mantas in Cayman, they are there...they just look a little more like stingrays in the Caribbean.

PS thanks for your help on the Titan issue i was having last week, the shutter nut was finally the resolving issue

Mike