Tag Archives: Manta Rays

Underwater world

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Head on view of a Manta Ray in the waters off Hawaii
Hard to beat seeing a big Manta Ray coming straight towards me.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme, guest hosted by Cathy at Between the Lines is ‘Your Favorite Places.’ See more responses here.

The ocean is one of my favorite places. I love snorkeling and every swim is different, the conditions and the things I see. Here’s a sample. Captions on the photos.

A Scarface Blenny in the waters off Hawaii
A cute little Scarface Blenny.
A Christmas Wrasse in the waters off Hawaii
It’s Christmas year-round for this Christmas Wrasse.
A female Pearl Wrasse in the waters off Hawaii
It’s the lady who wears the pearls on a Pearl Wrasse.
A Happy looking collector urchin in the waters off Hawaii
This Collector Urchin looks happy, so don’t step on it.
A Mauve Stinger Jellyfish in the waters off Hawaii
A Mauve Stinger Jellyfish is lovely to look at but best not to touch.
A Peppered Moray Eel in the waters off Hawaii
Eels can bite, but this Peppered Moray Eel was just passing by.
A shoal of Hawaiian Silversides in the waters off Hawaii
A shoal of tiny Hawaiian Silversides.
Reef fish in the waters off Hawaii
A variety of reef fish often shoal together.
A Green Turtle in the waters off Hawaii
It’s always nice to bump into a Hawaiian Green Turtle, sometimes almost literally.
Spinner Dolphins in the waters off Hawaii
And it’s a special treat when Spinner Dolphins whistle by.

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

A manta ray in the waters off Hawaii

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.

A manta ray in the waters off Hawaii
A manta ray in the waters off Hawaii
A manta ray in the waters off Hawaii

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.
Cabbage butterflies not mating.
Birds bathing in a pond at Place of Refuge
Bath time.
One of the pools at Pu’uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park.
A Manta Ray moment.
Sunset with palms.

Just passing through

A Manta Ray swims by in the waters off Hawaii

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.

A Manta Ray swims by in the waters off Hawaii

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 Nene displays an impressive wingspan.
A pair of Hawaiian Noddys approach their roost at Whittington Park in Hawaii
A pair of Hawaiian Noddies head to their roost at Whittington Park.

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
A pair of Passion Vine Butterflies flit about.

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 Manta Ray glides over the sea floor.

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 UPS plane heads for Honolulu early one morning.

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 grasshopper wondering if it could do that!
A Great Frigatebird knows it doesn’t have to do any spinning because it glides supremely well.
A manta ray swims in the waters off Mauna Kea Resort, Hawaii
A manta ray swims in the waters off Mauna Kea Resort, Hawaii
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).