Tag Archives: Manta Rays

A look back at 2025

A humpback whale and her calf swim in the waters off Lapakahi Historical Park, Hawaii — This Humpback Whale encounter was probably the highlight of the year (here).

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Year in review.’ See more responses here. As usual, I’ve picked a photo from each of the past 12 months and included a link to the original post.

Lenticular clouds over Mauna Kea at sunrise — Sunrise over Mauna Kea (here).

A Monarch Butterfly on a leaf in Hawaii — A Monarch Butterfly on a leaf (here).

A Manta Ray swims by in the waters off Hawaii — A Manta Ray passes by (here).

View of Kilauea Eruption in May 2025 — One of the many episodes of the current eruption at Kilauea (here).

A Japanese White-eye on Octopus Tree flowers in Hawaii — A Japanese White-eye on Octopus Tree flowers (here).

The interior of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hawi, Hawaii — The interior of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hawi (here).

A male Sonoran Carpenter bee in Hawaii — A male Sonoran Carpenter Bee (here).

Art and chairs in the waiting room of Hilo Benioff Medical Center in Hawaii — A waiting room at the Hilo Benioff Medical Center (here).

A child jumps into the ocean from a rock tower at Coconut Island, Hilo, Hawaii — Jumping into the ocean at Coconut Island, Hilo (here).

Horses frolicking at Paniolo Adventures on the Big Island, Hawaii — A kerfuffle in the corral at Paniolo Adventures (here).

An indigenous I'iwi honeycreeper in Hawaii — A native I’iwi bird (here).

Manta Ray moment

I spotted this Manta Ray coming towards me about the same time it spotted me. I thought it might come and check me out, but it clearly decided against that, dove down and then scooted away. It was the first manta I’d seen for a long time so, regardless of its response, I was very happy to see it.

The Numbers Game #85

The port at Kawaihae at sunset — Lights at the Port of Kawaihae.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 207. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

Large Orange Sulphur Butterflies mating.

One of the pools at Pu’uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park.

Just passing through

During yesterday’s swim, this Manta Ray appeared in front of me. It passed directly beneath me, and was clearly not inclined to pause and check out the ungainly creature above it. It’s the first I’ve seen in a long while, and certainly the first this year. Manta Ray encounters are a treat, especially as this one was beautifully marked and in great condition, which is always good to see.

Winging it

A Great Frigatebird flies off the Kohala coast in Hawaii — A Great Frigatebird glides over the ocean off the Kohala coast.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Wings.’ See more responses here. Let’s start with the birds.

A Northern Cardinal Juvenile launches off a branch in Hawaii — A Northern Cardinal juvenile coming to get me!

A Hawaiian Nene spreads its wings — A Northern Cardinal juvenile coming to get me!

There are many winged insects too.

A Roseate Skimmer Dragonfly perches on a stalk in Hawaii — The delicate wings of a Roseate Skimmer Dragonfly.

Two Passion Vine Butterflies flying in Hawaii — The delicate wings of a Roseate Skimmer Dragonfly.

You can also find wings in the water

Three eagle rays swim in the ocean off Hawaii — A trio of Eagle Rays cruise through coastal waters.

A coastal manta ray swims in the ocean off Hawaii — A trio of Eagle Rays cruise through coastal waters.

And there are other wings too.

A pair of metal wings on the ground in Hawaii — A broach of emblem found lying in the grass.

A UPS plane flies overhead in Hawaii — A broach of emblem found lying in the grass.

The Numbers Game #27

An F-22 Raptor flies by at Kahului Airport, Maui.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 148. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

A spinner dolphin doing what it’s named for.

A manta ray swims in the waters off Mauna Kea Resort, Hawaii — This Manta Ray is quietly confident it can spin and glide with the best of them!

Looking back at 2023

Late afternoon sun of the coast of Kohala, Hawaii — January: Approaching sunset off the Kohala coast (link).

A chocolate birthday cake — February: A yummy birthday cake (link).

Sunday Stills challenge theme this week and next week is ‘Your 2023 Year-in-Review.’ See more responses here. As before, I’m going with a favorite photo from each month of 2023, with a caption and link to the post the photo first appeared in. This week, I’m posting favorites from January through June. See the rest of the year next week.

A praying mantis drinks from a puddle of water — March: Time for a drink (link).

A manta ray swims in the waters off Hawaii — April: Meeting a manta (link).

Piglets wrestle for a mango — May: They’re not cute and funny these days (link)!

Leis draped on King Kamehameha statue — June: The king’s birthday (link).

Right time, right place

A couple of days ago, my wife and I arrived at our usual snorkeling spot and, when we got out of the car, she spotted fins in the water. Fins generally belong to dolphins, sharks or rays. Each has a different look and these had the look of manta ray wingtips. We could see that there were at least two mantas in the bay. Sometimes, especially with dolphins, the fins will be on the move as the bearers move along the coast. These mantas did not seem in a hurry to go anywhere, but were just puttering around the bay. We hustled down to the water and swam off in the general direction of where we’d seen activity.

We were swimming along when I saw the first manta heading towards me. I stopped and started taking photos. It came fairly close before veering away and heading back the way it came. Then it turned, came back past us and continued on its way.

When it became clear it wasn’t coming back we continued on our way. A little farther along we saw the second manta. It was doing barrel rolls and then came our way. Again, we stopped and watched. This one was more curious, passing by quite close and then looping around several times. Sometimes it went a fair distance away and we’d pop up and follow its progress when it was close to the surface.

Eventually, it seemed to head off in the general direction of the other manta. We lost track of it and popped up in the water to decide what to do next. When I ducked under the water again and turned around I saw the manta again. It made a couple more passes before heading out towards deeper water.

Graham's Island

Life on the Big Island of Hawaii