12/31/2023 0 Comments Reef mantas![]() ![]() Their wing span can reach up to 8 meter wide. Not spotted very often here, it is still possible to see these bigger rays, passing by in the blue water. The giant manta (Manta Birostris) is the bigger one of the two manta species that we get in the area. What is the difference between giant mantas and reef mantas? The gill-rakers sit along side the gills, allowing for feeding and oxygen absorption to occur simultaneously. Manta Rays’ Gill-rakers filter zooplankton from the water. It is thought that they do this, to try and capture as much plankton as they can in a small area. One aerobatic maneuver that these creatures perform is the barrel roll. Sometimes mantas can also be seen using their cephalic fins to aid in tight maneuvers, as an airplane would use its ailerons when performing acrobatics. The cephalic fins that manta rays have by their mouths (their so-called devil horns) are believed to help the direction of water flow into the manta’s mouth. Manta rays have a terminal mouth (on the front of their face) that allows them to take in large amounts of plankton rich water meaning they can ventilate and feed at the same time. While they feed, it is possible to see the manta rays breaking the surface with their wing tips. The manta rays feeding can even be seen from the boat. At Manta Bay, it is often that we see that manta rays feeding at the surface. Manta rays feed both in mid water and at the surface. Due to this moment of food induced water, it is often we see manta rays feeding inside this bay. With the swells and wind that affect the south coast of Penida, plankton rich water is pushed into Manta Bay. What is a feeding station?įeeding stations are where manta rays go to feed on tiny marine organisms including microscopic plankton. It is these reef fish that clean the manta rays. The manta rays will enter this cleaning station and circle the rock slowly while the reef fish clean them. This formation is covered in hard corals, in which the reef fish live. This rock formation starts around 12 meters underwater and comes up to 3 meters from the surface. The large round rock formation at Manta Point, is what the manta rays use as a cleaning stations. Cleaning is a very important part of the manta ray’s daily routine, and sometimes they spend up to eight hours a day being cleaned by different fish including: scissortail sergeant majors, bicolor cleanerfish, moon wrasses, and butterflyfish. What is a cleaning station?Ĭleaning stations are areas where mantas go to have parasites, dead tissue, and algae build-up removed by cleaner fish. Manta ray mating trains with as many as 30 mantas on one dive have been spotted at this site. The plankton rich waters attracts circling mantas, waiting to be cleaned. The main attraction of the dive site is the cleaning station or large rock formation found at a shallow depth of 5m. This site provides year round opportunity for a magical encounter with the majestic Manta Rays. 45 minute boatride away from Lembongan, alongside dramatic limestone cliffs. ![]() Also located on South West coast of Nusa Penida. ![]() Manta Point is our manta cleaning station. Divers spend most of the dive quite shallow, closely observing the Mantas as they feed. The dive site is a shallow bay with a mixture of sandy and coral bottom. The plankton rich water found along the limestone coast attracts the Mantas all year around. ![]() The Manta Rays are often smaller than the giant ones found at Manta Point. Located on the West coast of Nusa Penida, diving conditions are generally easy although there can be some surge. But what is the difference between the two? Manta Bay One, is Manta Bay and the other is Manta Point. There are two dive sites around Lembongan in which you have the chance to see the manta rays. What is the difference between giant mantas and reef mantas.What are cleaning stations and feeding stations.The difference between Manta Bay and Manta Point.Here we are going to cover some interesting facts Twin Island Dive is here to help get you underwater with these amazing creatures. For many, the manta rays are the main reason they came to Lembongan. Seeing the Manta Rays in Lembogan is a big draw card for a lot of divers. ![]()
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