Swimming with wild manta rays in the open ocean at night was one of the most incredible experiences I've ever, um, experienced. It all started one day when they built a Sheraton hotel right on the ocean on the big island of Hawaii and started shining lights on the water at night because it looked nice for their guests. Then people started noticing a regular population of manta rays feeding in this spot each night. It turns out the light attracts plankton, which are then delicious food for the mantas. If you swim there at night with lights, then the huge beautiful creatures will swarm around you, somersaulting under and around you and brushing right up against you as they go past. A couple of times I literally could have put the camera right in the animal's gaping mouth, it was so close. They are intelligent and affectionate creatures. So magical. πππ πππ πππ πππ #nature_perfection #earthofficial #earthfocus #earth_deluxe #awesomeearth #naturelover #underwater #snorkelaroundtheworld #underwaterphoto #uwphotography #bg_underwater #underwaterig #diving #underwaterworld #scubadiving #underthesea #mantaray #mantarays #mantarayisland #stingray #stingrays #wildlifeplanet #wildlife_perfection (at Hawaiian Islands)
