News
Manta Behaviour… where do they go?
The handsome male manta in the photo above is now known as Troy, thanks to Julia from Wythall, near Birmingham, who won the Scuba Tours Worldwide ‘Name the Manta’ Competition at DIVE 2016 in Birmingham over the past weekend.
“Troy is a fairly large manta who has been visiting Sunlight Thila and Lankan dive sites in the Maldives since mid 2007, but isn’t there often. He tends to appear when there is a group of large females, so it is likely that he is attracted to these busy cleaning stations during mating season and is looking for a mate,” said Dr Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler from the Manta Ecology Project.
Anne-Marie has been studying mantas for 15 years and she took the above picture whilst working as a Dive Guide in the Maldives for Scuba Tours Worldwide. “I have come to appreciate the range of behaviours exhibited by individual mantas. Some we see many times each season, in some cases we lose contact of one for a few years and then it reappears and is seen frequently for the following seasons. There have been a good number seen once and then not seen again until 10, 12 and even 14 years later … so I never give up on a manta! Where do they go in the meantime? The Maldives is a very large geographical area with many reefs never visited by divers. Even in areas where there is relatively intensive diving there are quiet reefs and channels not ever visited by divers or snorkelers so there are plenty of places for “shy” mantas to avoid human contact. I have certainly observed a range of behaviour as far as manta-to-diver interaction is concerned. All the most famous mantas “love” divers and became famous because they were seen so often, easily photographed and became recognised and their names stuck. When I write “love” divers I mean they are tolerant and curious of us and have probably incorporated swimming through our exhaled bubbles into their cleaning routines. I really enjoy having a new manta re-sighted several times and become a new favourite … and I hope this is the case with the newly-named “Troy” manta.”
So, if you are going diving in the Maldives, be sure to look out for Troy!
Scuba Tours Worldwide are Maldives Specialists and experts in tailor-made liveaboard and resort holidays. To find out more about the services they offer, visit www.scubascuba.com.
The Shark Trust has launched their new podcast. Delve behind the scenes and gain exclusive insights in the world of shark and ray conservation on The Shark Trust Podcast. Out Now!
Join the Shark Trust on this journey as they explore the diverse world of sharks. Hear from experts from different backgrounds and learn how you can become a part of the global effort to protect these vital species.
Whether you’re a seasoned shark expert or just dipping your toes beneath the surface, this podcast offers something for everyone!
In the first series you will hear from the Shark Trust team. Shark Trust Patrons, Monty Halls, Miranda Krestovnikoff and Simon Rogerson. Divers with a passion for sharks. And some of the Oceanic 31 artists.
New episodes released every two weeks on all major podcast platforms and watch full video versions on the Shark Trust YouTube Channel. Keep your eyes peeled for the bonus minisodes!
There are two available to dive into right now!
Episode 1: Dive beneath the waves of shark and ray conservation with Mark as he speaks with Paul Cox, CEO of the Shark Trust. Paul and Mark discuss the threats and difficulties that sharks and rays currently face in the modern world. And how the Shark Trust is working to create a better future for them!
Bonus Minisode: Join Mark at Go Diving, the UK’s biggest dive show. He interviews Shark Trust Patron, Simon Rogerson, about his diving experiences and how seeing sharks can transform your life!
For more information about the work of the Shark Trust, visit their website here.
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