When I think of an awe inspired top 10 nature moment, the Sea Quest manta night dive easily makes this elite list!
I was saying “WOW” thru my snorkel and I even teared up a bit at the beauty, grace and stunning beauty of these gentle giants. I will never forget this experience and I had a wonderful adventure.
The experience: Parking was easy. We suited up in the wetsuits and we were called in orderly groups to board a zodiac for a quick boat trip about 5 minutes from the pier.
We got a safety briefing and staff were available to help us get prepared with snorkels. Pro-tip- ask for the defogger juice!
You have to roll off the side of the boat or jump into the water to get in. There’s no ladder to climb in. Then you swim a short distance to a giant lit up surfboard with handles to hold on and you get a pool noodle to put your feet up on and float and enjoy the views. It’s not as scary as it sounds.
The lights on the surfboard attract plankton which attract the manta rays and they swim right up under you and you get to see them up close and personal. It’s majestic and not scary at all.
Bonus is you get to also see other fish swimming below like giant parrotfish, and some folks even saw a small reef shark.
Afterwards you go back to their headquarters and get changed and dry and drink hot chocolate and eat cookies. A great ending to a fantastic night!
Pro tip- bring your own towel and a changing poncho as there’s no changing rooms. There is a shower around the side of the building to rinse off.