0_Wizard
I swam with Manta rays once.  The are a large ray that belong to the genus Manta
Manta rays are large rays belonging to the genus "Manta".
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Manta ray
chosen_topic_0_Manta_ray
Manta ray
Manta rays are large rays belonging to the genus "Manta". The larger species, "M. birostris", reaches in width while the smaller, "M. alfredi", reaches . Both have triangular pectoral fins, horn-shaped cephalic fins and large, forward-facing mouths. They are classified among the Myliobatiformes (stingrays and relatives) and are placed in the family Myliobatidae (eagle rays). Mantas are found in warm temperate, subtropical and tropical waters. Both species are pelagic; "M. birostris" migrates across open oceans, singly or in groups, while "M. alfredi" tends to be resident and coastal. They are filter feeders and eat large quantities of zooplankton, which they swallow with their open mouths as they swim.
Manta ray night dive
A manta ray night dive is a scuba diving excursion to view manta rays. Depending on the amount of microscopic plankton present, the number of manta rays will vary. Some days no manta rays are seen while on days with high plankton levels upwards of a dozen may be present. While diving, scuba divers shine lights up while snorkelers shine them down creating a column of light which attracts millions of minuscule plankton, which in turn attracts the manta rays. A popular site is just off the coast of Hawaii Island called Garden Eel Cove, as well as the Kona Surf Hotel. Located just off the coast of Keahole Point (near the Kona International Airport), it attracts scuba divers for the abundance of manta rays.
Reef manta ray
The reef manta ray ("Manta alfredi") is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae, one of the largest rays in the world. Among generally recognized species, it is the second-largest species of ray, only surpassed by the giant oceanic manta ray (a currently unrecognized species from the Caribbean region also appears to be larger than the reef manta ray). The species was described in 1868 by Gerard Krefft, the director of the Australian Museum. He named it "M. alfredi" in honor of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the first member of the British royal family to visit Australia. Reef manta rays are typically in disc width, with a maximum size of about .
Black Manta
Black Manta (David Hyde) is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in "Aquaman" #35 (September 1967) and is the archenemy of the superhero Aquaman. The character will make his cinematic debut in the James Wan's "Aquaman" film, portrayed by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. The character debuted in "Aquaman" #35 (September 1967) and was created by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy. Black Manta had no definitive origin story until #6 of the 1993 "Aquaman" series. In this origin, the boy who would become Black Manta grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and loved to play by Chesapeake Bay.
List of threatened rays
Threatened rays are those vulnerable to endangerment (extinction) in the near future. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s oldest global environmental organization. It evaluates threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories, depending on the degree to which they are threatened:  The term "threatened" strictly refers to these three categories (critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable), while "vulnerable" is used to refer to the least at risk of these categories. The terms can be used somewhat interchangeably, as all "vulnerable" species are threatened, all "endangered" species are vulnerable and threatened, and all "critically endangered" species are endangered, vulnerable and threatened.
Giant oceanic manta ray
The giant oceanic manta ray ("Manta birostris") is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae, and the largest type of ray in the world. They are circumglobal and are typically found in tropical and subtropical waters, but can also be found in temperate waters. The giant oceanic manta ray can grow to a disc size of up to across with a weight of about but average size commonly observed is . It is dorsoventrally flattened and has large, triangular pectoral fins on either side of the disc. At the front, it has a pair of cephalic fins which are forward extensions of the pectoral fins. These can be rolled up in a spiral for swimming or can be flared out to channel water into the large, forward-pointing, rectangular mouth when the animal is feeding.
Manta Trust
The Manta Trust is a UK-based charity that was formed in 2011 to co-ordinate global research and conservation efforts for manta rays, their close relatives and their habitat. As charismatic megafauna, manta rays act as a flagship species, helping to promote and engage the general public in the wider message of marine ecosystem conservation. Through this top down approach to conservation the manta ray becomes the catalyst for change, engaging and motivating the general public, governments and local communities alike. A UK Registered Charity, the Trust brings together a number of projects from around the globe, both new and long-standing, including the Republic of Maldives, Sri Lanka, Mexico and Indonesia.
1_Apprentice
That sounds amazing! Where did you do that and what was it like?
0_Wizard
It was on a vacation in Hawaii at the Garden Eel COve
A popular site is just off the coast of Hawaii Island called Garden Eel Cove, as well as the Kona Surf Hotel.
self_Manta_ray_night_dive_4
Manta ray night dive
self_1_Manta_ray_night_dive
Manta ray night dive
A manta ray night dive is a scuba diving excursion to view manta rays. Depending on the amount of microscopic plankton present, the number of manta rays will vary. Some days no manta rays are seen while on days with high plankton levels upwards of a dozen may be present. While diving, scuba divers shine lights up while snorkelers shine them down creating a column of light which attracts millions of minuscule plankton, which in turn attracts the manta rays. A popular site is just off the coast of Hawaii Island called Garden Eel Cove, as well as the Kona Surf Hotel. Located just off the coast of Keahole Point (near the Kona International Airport), it attracts scuba divers for the abundance of manta rays.
Heteroconger
Heteroconger is a genus of marine congrid eels. These small, slender garden eels live in groups where each individual has its own burrow. Usually, only the head and front half of the body is visible. The greatest species richness is in the Indo-Pacific, but species are also found in the warmer parts of the Atlantic (including the Caribbean) and the eastern Pacific. Its name relates to how a huge colony of the eels looks swaying in the current. The garden eel is roughly 40 cm (16 in) long. The eel has large eyes compared to its body, and a weak sense of smell because of its tiny nostrils. It is timid around other animals and people, but slightly aggressive towards other males of its species.
Spotted garden eel
The spotted garden eel ("Heteroconger hassi") is a heteroconger belonging to the family Congridae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific. The spotted garden eel is a small fish that can reach a maximum length of 40 cm. Its body is anguiform (eel-like): long, thin, with a circular cross-section (14 mm in average diameter) and a head of the same diameter as the body. The head appears shortened because the large mouth is close to the also large eyes. Nostrils are small and positioned in the center of the upper lip. The body is white and covered with many small black spots. The spotted garden eel has three larger distinctive black spots; the first identifies the gills opening and the position of the tiny pectoral fins, the second is located in the central part of the body and the third one surrounds the anus.
Gorgasia preclara
Gorgasia preclara, commonly called splendid garden eel or orange-barred garden eel, is a species of marine garden eel. The splendid garden eel is a medium-sized fish, up to 40 cm maximum length. Its body has a circular shape with a diameter of about 10 mm. Its body color is yellow to orange with characteristic white bands. "G. preclara" is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific area from the Maldives to Indonesian archipelago and the Papua New Guinea and north to Ryukyu, Japanese archipelagos, and south to the Philippines. It occurs in sandy areas exposed to currents at depths between 18 and 75 m, but is usually observed at an average depth of 30 m.  The splendid garden eel lives in a buried tube in the sand either alone or in small groups.
Gilbert's garden eel
The Gilbert's garden eel ("Ariosoma gilberti"), also known as the Gilbert's conger and the sharpnose conger, is an eel in the family Congridae (conger/garden eels). It was described by James Douglas Ogilby in 1898, originally under the genus "Congrellus". It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the eastern central and southeastern Pacific Ocean, including the Gulf of California, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Colombia. It is a benthic and nocturnal species, and inhabits sand flats in reefs, bays and coves at a depth range of 1-100 metres.
Dotted garden eel
The Dotted Garden Eel ("Gorgasia punctata"), also known as the Peppered Garden Eel, is an eel in the family Congridae (conger/garden eels). It was described by Seth Eugene Meek and Samuel Frederick Hildebrand in 1923. It is a nonmigratory tropical, marine eel which is known from the eastern central Pacific Ocean, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Males can reach a maximum total length of 50 cm. Due to the widespread distribution of the species, as well its lack of known threats and observed population declines, the IUCN redlist currently lists the dotted garden eel as Least Concern.
Brown garden eel
The brown garden eel ("Heteroconger longissimus"), also known simply as the garden eel, is an eel in the family Congridae (conger/garden eels). It was described by Albert Günther in 1870. It is a tropical, marine eel which is known from the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean, including Madeira, the Canary Islands, Senegal, the Bahamas, the Florida Keys, Antilles, Yucatan, Belize, Honduras, and Brazil. It dwells at a depth of 10-60 m, most commonly between 20 and 60 m, and leads a nonmigratory, benthic lifestyle, inhabiting reefs in colonies. They likely spawn during the warm season. The larval state of development lasts for about 6-8 months.
1_Apprentice
You are so lucky to experience that. What are manta rays like - I've never seen one?