Underwater Photo Gallery: Alexander Safonov

Combination of 15 liter tank, nitrox and relaxed diving rules imposed by S.M.Y. Ondina helped me to enjoy one of the best 20 minutes underwater I ever had - everyone in the group surfaced after dive near manta cleaning station, I was only one remaining and enjoyed really close interaction with one black and one white mantas, swimming together with them just less then half meter apart - I was trying to get in front of manta for frontal shot, but it was not letting me, by increasing speed to match mine and to stay close. It was great fun. Typically if many people are underwater simultaneously mantas are really shy and don't want to play, and divers try to keep low profile not to scary off mantas. This time I had luxury to be in the water just by myself for extended period of time, and was allowed by these giants to swim together, not just to sit on the floor. In addition to that it was fist time I saw black mantas - they are more difficult to photograph due to lack of contrast white belly provides, but nether less are very magnificent animals.

Tags: manta ray, rays, indonesia