By Dan Jolly (BonaireTalker - Post #54) on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 1:31 pm: |
I keep reading recently several items that mention mantas begin seen, including settling on the bottom and eating. Now, in my experience that is a stingray, usually southern type and definitely not a manta type activity. I hesitate to comment to people on this possible confusion but I wonder if any others are getting the same message from various posters to BT. Of course, I would like to know if or how often Manta Rays are sighted around Bonaire. I would expect on the east side if anywhere. Any ideas?
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By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1609) on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 1:36 pm: |
mantas are seen but not regularly...at least that's been our experience. we've never seen one there. we have seen numerous southern sting rays and spotted eagle rays, both swimming and grazing on the bottom but i've never seen a manta. and from what i've read, mantas are plankton feeders or at least feed while swimming so i wouldn't expect to see them on the bottom. i'm sure those who have seen mantas will have better info.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1074) on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 1:49 pm: |
I saw a short video posted here on Bonaire talk of a manta off the La Dania's Leap - Karpata dive one time. The video convinced that they are seen off Bonaire from time to time. The Ray in the video was clearly a Manta.
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By Denise K (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2200) on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 1:51 pm: |
My husband saw a manta on Bonaire some years ago, with a dive buddy. I was skeptical because they saw it on the bottom in the sand and it raised up and swam away. But he and his buddy insisted it was a manta and they have seen other types of rays often enough that I have believed them. I just did a search and apparently, if this hit can be believed, they do rest on the bottom as well.
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By **Barbara* *"CB"* *Gibson** (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2374) on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 2:34 pm: |
Eric and I definitely saw one at The Rock. We saw it straight on, into its mouth, so there was no mistaking it. But it was small, maybe 5 feet across, and it would swoop down to the bottom, until I thought it was actually lightly sweeping the silty bottom.
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By Debbie B. ~ Jersey Gal (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8355) on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 3:22 pm: |
Well, Susan Porter, myself and my husband DID see a manta yesterday diving together, and it was not on the bottom feeding, it was above us and came down to see us from above. Went right over us, I think we were down maybe 40 feet or so at the time. Maybe not even that deep.
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By **Barbara* *"CB"* *Gibson** (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2376) on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 3:45 pm: |
Rub it in, Debbie-on-Bonaire...
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By Kristi, the GOOD (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4117) on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 3:50 pm: |
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By Brian* * * * (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4142) on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 3:53 pm: |
As per my earlier post, we saw one in March this year swimming under the Dock at Habitat. Devil Rays are Mobula usually about 3 feet or so across.
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By Debbie B. ~ Jersey Gal (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8356) on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 5:08 pm: |
Aw, heck, not trying to do that, CB, just so darn happy that I got to see one, that's all. It was a rainy day, stuff floating in the water, perfect conditions for one to cruise by. We just happen to be in the right place at the right time. Mother Ocean sure smiled on us this trip.
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By T-Shirt Divers John and Sue (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #708) on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 6:34 pm: |
Debbie, Where were you diving when you saw the Manta yesterday?
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By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7019) on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 8:51 am: |
My bet it is due to the white clouds in the water. When we were there in March, we had a wind reversal and lots of particulants in the water and sure enough a manta was seen.
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By Debbie B. ~ Jersey Gal (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8358) on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 11:10 am: |
Nice Cecil, Ours was definitely a manta, saw every inch of him up close and personal. Really made my trip it did. Still smiling over here on a rainy Bonaire today two days later.
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By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1612) on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 12:07 pm: |
debbie, where did you see it? please tell me the LBR reef.
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By Debbie B. ~ Jersey Gal (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8361) on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 1:59 pm: |
Pat, nope, but south side for sure! Wish it was LBR reef, haven't dove it this trip, who knows, maybe one is out there waiting to be found!
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By Michael Stanfield (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #161) on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 5:32 pm: |
If there is agreement that this is a manta ray then there are still some to see around Bonaire. As others have said rare. I have seen only 4 in last 7 years. This one was near Spelonk
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By Sorrows (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #133) on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 11:30 am: |
There was one under the boat at Bari Reef last December. (yes, it was definitely a manta--everybody saw it, not just us.)
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By Bart Snelder (BonaireTalker - Post #36) on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 5:29 pm: |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v==IEwc_SRuD10
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By Bart Snelder (BonaireTalker - Post #37) on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 5:36 pm: |
oeps made a mistake, sorry
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By ****Tink**** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7758) on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 5:52 pm: |
Bart, outstanding :-)
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By Debbie B. ~ Jersey Gal (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8387) on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 5:55 pm: |
Bart, Nice!
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By Bill Thorpe, (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #354) on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 6:18 pm: |
I've seen Manta Rays at Angel city, on several occasions. I surface swim to the buoy, dive to the left and look in the sandy area. Bas Noij was with me the first time--Hey Bas, how u doin ?
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By Beck-ee... not wanting winter to come (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2021) on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 10:58 pm: |
Awesome video!
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By James Thomas (BonaireTalker - Post #72) on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 2:37 pm: |
I was also ask if I was sure we had spotted a Manta Ray.
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By Mike Cole (BonaireTalker - Post #82) on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 3:30 pm: |
James,
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By James Thomas (BonaireTalker - Post #73) on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 4:46 pm: |
Mike
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By Bart Snelder (BonaireTalker - Post #38) on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 6:09 pm: |
The ray on James' link is a manta birostris, which genus is known to comprise of two sub species. Mike and james are both right it is a manta often called a devil ray. you guys must be happy now :-)
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By Bas Noij (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #288) on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 9:07 pm: |
As far as I know (and according to the Deloach books) a Manta Ray and a Devil Ray are two different (but similar looking) species. A Devil ray has its mouth underneath its body, the manta ray in front. I believe the video proves that is was a Manta Ray that you filmed but I am curious what others think.
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By Bas Noij (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #289) on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 9:09 pm: |
BTW Bill...I am fine!! Looking forward to seeing you on your next trip over! We'll go out looking for Manta's for sure
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By blue mcright (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #174) on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 9:14 pm: |
My husband and I have seen two Manta Rays in Bonairean waters in the last six years; one at La Dania/Karpata and one at Vista Blue. They were definitely Mantas. On the La D - K dive we were with our OW instructor on one of our first post-certification dives - talk about beginner's luck!
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By Bill Thorpe, (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #355) on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 10:09 pm: |
Bas, trying to get things shaped up for a late July visit. The airfare what's holding the deal up--terrible, almost 300 $ more than last July. My Marine/ dive instructor, buddy is also planning the trip!
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By Bas Noij (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #290) on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 10:15 pm: |
I'm not jealous Blue...I'M NOT!!!
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By blue mcright (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #175) on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 10:33 pm: |
Sorry Bas!
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By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1621) on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - 9:31 am: |
debbie, you never said what site you were at. some place with a sandy bottom like invisibles or one with a rockier, coral bottom? inquiring minds want to know.
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By Cecil* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7057) on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - 8:33 pm: |
I've got to go with Manta Ray in the video. In the video there is a small vertical fin near the tail that I did not see this in the Atlantic Devil Ray. Regardless a great capture and I am seriously jealous.
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By Dan Jolly (BonaireTalker - Post #80) on Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 10:52 am: |
A great discussion on mantas, devil rays and rays in general. Thanks to all for your input.
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By Peter Oliveira (LBR28) (BonaireTalker - Post #46) on Friday, December 26, 2008 - 9:05 pm: |
Dan, today we saw a manta. Four of us were diving at Daina's leap "SP", coming out of one of the caves " shallow hollows on the face of the wall" when we spotted the manta swimming by. We were at 154 ft deep, it went by us heading deeper.
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By Tom Schamp (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #168) on Monday, December 29, 2008 - 10:19 am: |
154 feet is a tad deep. Is that correct or is it a typo?
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By B-B-B-eck-k-k-k-k-eeeee (it's c-c-c-old) (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2128) on Monday, December 29, 2008 - 11:44 am: |
Tech diver?? Re-breather??
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By Peter Oliveira (LBR28) (BonaireTalker - Post #47) on Monday, December 29, 2008 - 9:00 pm: |
Tom, you're correct. 154 feet is a tad deep, it was a quick bounce dive, most of the dive was spent up at about 40 to 45 feet.
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By Kevin (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 1:23 am: |
I know this thread is a bit old but....
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By Ron Gould*** (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1822) on Friday, January 16, 2009 - 11:13 am: |
The first Ray is a Southern Ray, and the second Ray is a Manta! good video... Ron
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By Jane Rene Dozier (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #108) on Saturday, January 31, 2009 - 11:23 pm: |
We saw an enormous Manta ray last year in March at Witch's Hut. It was about 10 or 12 feet across. So graceful and totally unafraid of us. Swam right up by us--close enough to look into its big eye. It was truly one of the most awesome things I have ever seen in my life.
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