February 22nd, 2007
Manta Ray Experience - Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa
Picture a large, shadow-like creature gliding like an acrobat through crystal clear ocean waters. Strangely shaped, yet hauntingly beautiful and graceful, one cannot help but crave to learn more. What is it you have seen? You have seen a manta ray, the largest of the ray species, reaching wing spans of more than twenty feet and weighing as much as 3,000 pounds.
Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa has teamed together with local manta ray expert, James L. Wing, to re-create an environment attractive to the world-famous Keauhou Manta Rays and welcome them back to a familiar feeding ground. Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa has long been one of the preferred feeding areas for these mysterious and amazingly beautiful creatures. Guests are able to observe the mantas nightly from the lanai (balcony) of their rooms or from special viewing areas within the resort’s grounds. Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mr. Wing or his interns are available at Crystal Blue to answer questions and share information regarding current manta studies on behavior and habitat.
For those who want a more "up close and personal" encounter with these enchanting creatures, the Manta Experience takes guests into the water for a nighttime snorkel or SCUBA dive excursion to the site.
Join the experienced crew of Sea Paradise Monday through Friday at 6:30 p.m. To mark this experience a part of your Big Island vacation contact me at angelica@hawaii-aloha.com or 1800-843-8771 ext. 21
A manta ray is a fish with no bones and is a relative of the shark. Unlike the shark, however, the manta ray has no teeth. Manta rays are filter feeders. This means that instead of catching their prey with teeth, they filter the water through their large mouths, which contain a complex system of filters. As one of the largest fish in the ocean, it is interesting to note that their diet consists of some of the smallest: Plankton.
April 6, 2005 - Manta Ray First Person Account
"We arrived on-site shortly before sunset. I set up a flood light on the port side to attract mantas to the boat so as to avoid the need to swim away from the boat and inshore. After we all watched the sunset, I briefed the snorkelers about the mantas themselves and how we planned to interact with them. Towards the end of my briefing, a manta ray came to the light and began feeding at the surface right next to the boat. The guests were thrilled. I then went in on SCUBA and placed four lights on the bottom next to the boat in 25 feet of water to illuminate a large column of light to further define the "Manta Theater of Operations" for both the guests and the mantas. In the meantime, the crew assisted the guests into the water. While this was going on, I swam inshore and found another manta feeding in the area illuminated by the lights shining down from the resort. Those on land could see a manta and the guests on the boat were in the water with one. The manta that came to the boat stayed with us the entire time we were in the water (about 60 minutes). All of the guests came within inches of the manta ray many times and it was all captured on video. Sea Paradise had two crewmen in the water and two topside to monitor the activity. Safety flotation devices and wetsuits were supplied to all who wanted them. At its conclusion, everyone commented on how incredible the Manta Experience was and how it far exceeded what they imagined it would be. The manta that came to the boat was "Koie;" a large female. Her normal behavior is to stay around once she finds a good source of plankton. The fact that we are getting multiple manta sightings is very encouraging."
With Aloha,
James L. Wing
Manta Consultant
Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa
Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa values and respects our ocean environment. Their Manta Ray program has been created with the expert advice of James L. Wing, Kona Operations Manager for The Manta Network, a global organization for the protection and conservation of manta rays. A portion of the proceeds from each experience is being donated to this organization with membership that includes all of the top manta biologists in the world.
This program, while allowing above and below water visual sightings of manta ray will explicitly not allow any touching of these magnificent creatures. All underwater experiences will be under the supervision of Mr. Wing or one of his trained staff. Through the complimentary lesson about current manta studies on behavior and habitat and the in-water experiences, the ultimate goal is to be exemplary stewards of the manta ray and their ocean environment. These offerings to a wide-ranging audience will increase awareness of the challenges faced worldwide by manta ray and numerous other rare ocean inhabitants.