Slideshow French Polynesia 2006

Just an update to this morning’s post – we went snorkeling today in the dinghy and on the way back as we approached Raven, we spotted a manta ray near the surface. We all jumped in and of course scared it away. However we figured it was hanging out in the area feeding, so I let the others return to the boat while I stayed in the water. I paddled slowly along the length of a sandy slope and eventually came upon the manta swimming directly towards me. He passed underneath and I turned to follow – at which point he did four backward loop de loops just 10 feet or so away from me, giving me a real close-up view of both the manta and a pair of remoras tagging along with him. Quite a sight! I don’t know what he was thinking, but it was very cooperative of him to do backwards somersaults right next to me and give me a chance to enjoy a really close-up view! Too bad no camera, but we have more manta encounters to come, hopefully!

I’m playing on the laptop with my Nikon underwater photos from the other day and am thrilled with the quality and resolution – a whole new level of underwater photography.