November 2, 2008 - Hiva Oa, Marquesas – MANTA RAYS!!

All I can say about today is Manta Rays!!! I had the most amazing experience this morning that I was actually shrieking underwater.

Around 7 am Ingrid came up to me and told me that someone had spotted manta rays off the side of the ship. After talking to Aaron (the expedition leader) we got the ok to go scout and see if we could find more. We did find more – about 30 – and they were all feeding on the plankton rich water. I got in the water first to see if they would be ok having someone in the water with them and they were not only fine with it, but they got up close to me, even brushing along next to me as I swam. Now, you have to understand that these creatures are not tiny – in fact, they can be over 20 feet in diameter. These were small, with the largest around 8 feet from wing to wing. They are gentle creatures, and feed with their mouths agape just flying through the water. We got permission to offer a snorkel for the passengers and only two took us up on it. Thank goodness someone came, or else we would not have been allowed to do it. And then the real fun started. Groups of about 18 surrounded us and we were able to watch them do somersaults in the water and piggy back feed.

Basically, that means that they stack themselves in a line, almost one on top of the other. This helps streamline them so that they can swim easier. At one point I was surrounded – left, right, and underneath there were mantas everywhere! I would have to rank this as the #2 marine experience that I have ever had. And from what I have heard, it is very rare to have this happen, so I consider myself very lucky.





































Views of the manta rays from underwater

















The view from above with a group of manta rays swimming around us with open mouths feeding

So what did I miss while snorkeling……the Gauguin museum and the gravesite of Jacques Brel and Gauguin. Oh well.

In the afternoon we repositioned the ship to Puamau and went to one of the most beautiful and significant archaeological sites in the Marquesas. I just love the scenery in the Marquesas. It is so dramatic and lush. We were greeted on shore with leis (I am getting spoiled with that), and here is a photo of the young boy that gave me my lei.


Receiving my flower lei at Puamau

The dancing was fantastic and I love the tattoos of the men. I haven’t yet gotten any good close up photos of the tattoos, but they are really intricate and incredible. Here is a photo of the largest tiki in French Polynesia (about 8 feet tall) with some other statues.


The tikis of Iipona tohua