![]() □ To better understand the population dynamics of oceanic manta rays throughout the Maldives Archipelago, and assess the possible connectivity between the population recorded in the Maldives and the population being fished in neighbouring Sri Lanka. The Maldives Oceanic Manta Ray Project goals are: □ Collect tissue biopsy samples from a selection of oceanic manta rays in order to conduct stable isotope, fatty acid, and genetic analyses and comparisons with individuals fished in Sri Lanka. □ Track a selection of oceanic manta rays with critter cams to determine spatial and temporal movements and habitat use of this species around Maldivian waters. □ Photo-ID - Enables the development of photo-ID databases of all the mantas within a population, allowing us to estimate population size and document movements seasonally and spatially. The research techniques used by The Maldives Oceanic Manta Ray Project Team include: □ The database of oceanic manta rays totals over 850 individuals, however, the population appears to be highly transient with individuals spending only short periods of time close to the reef, and rarely being re-sighted. Oceanic manta rays are regionally common for just a few months a year in Fuvahmulah, one of the southernmost atolls. □ The Republic of Maldives has an annual migratory population of oceanic manta rays. □ Diving into our 'Research Series' with a splash! Today, we're thrilled to present the season summary of The Maldives Oceanic Manta Ray Project in Fuvahmulah for 2023! □ Research Series - The Maldives Oceanic Manta Ray Project #mantaray #reefmanta #cyclonefeeding #mantaconservation #marineconservation #mantatrust Visit the link in our bio to join The Cyclone! This collective teamwork is what inspired our supporters community called ‘The Cyclone’. The rotating cyclone always turns in an anticlockwise direction when viewed from above looking down onto the mantas. The spiralling mass of as many as 150 individual manta rays circle around together for as long as 60 minutes. As more and more animals join the circle, the column of mantas builds through the water to resemble an underwater cyclone of mantas which is approximately 15 metres in diameter. A line of chain feeding mantas begin to loop around until the lead of the feeding chain joins the trailing mantas to form a large circle of feeding animals. This behaviour has only been recorded in reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi). Variation in the rays’ swimming positions, and the strategies they use as a group, are key to their feeding success. The once flattened body and mouth becomes a giant black hole, with the pectoral fins serving as wings that power the ray through the water. Sizing each other up, the larger manta rises above the smaller.When manta and mobula rays open their mouths to feed, unfurling those hornlike projections, the cephalic fins, they transform into feeding machines. As we turned to watch it pass there was the realisation that another was on the cleaning station. Gliding gracefully against the current that we had fought to reach this point. The manta glided past, looking at us on its first loop. The creature we had travelled so far to see. Small fish were swarming, but the 5 mantas that had been seen from the surface were nowhere to be seen.Īnd then in the distance an outline appeared. Looking around the cleaning station was nothing more than a plateau. A recipe for a visit to the decompression chamber. If the reef hook came loose I was going to the surface in a hurry. And then the thing that goes against everything in diving was needed. Could I do this to my friends missing the hook was not an option.Īll of a sudden our guide was there, unravelling my hook line, finding me a piece of the seabed that was not going anywhere. If I got this wrong it was the end of the dive for everyone. ![]() After 25years of diving this was a new skill. And then it was the moment I had been dreading. I could see the sides of the channel and the bottom was coming into view. The current was pushing us into the atoll now. It was hard work, far too hard for a holiday. Finning hard, my breathing laboured and tiredness hitting I was beginning to wonder what we were doing here. Ahead was the channel, the opening into the atoll from the big blue outside. I could feel the thermoclines washing past, my depth increasing with each fin stroke. Heading off the back of the boat it was a fast descent.
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