Nothing startling to report from this trip from a photographic perspective, though we were able to capture some nice images in amongst spending time with Zac.
Here’s an excerpt from a feature that I wrote describing a surprise manta encounter. – JC
We visited a site called Lankan Reef which promised a fast moving show, but when we arrived there the current was slight, almost non-existent. It also boasted a manta cleaning station which we would pass en route down the reef, but it was too early in the year for manta ray encounters (it was April, and the season is May – November). Or was it?
Later in the dive, someone tugged excitedly on my BCD. I turned around to find a manta approaching me. I instinctively attempted to capture an image, but it was too late to sort out my camera settings as it passed overhead. Though it was great to see a manta so unexpectedly (and so close), the photographer in me felt more than a little frustration as it cruised majestically away from me down the reef. I guessed it might be the only chance I would get.
But no, somewhere beyond the edge of the visibility it must have turned around and began heading back towards me. I didn’t notice it straight away, but when I did, there was time (though not much time) to prepare to capture an image. I quickly fired a test shot to get the water colour “in the zone” but to my horror, it was way out. Way too dark. I’d have to sort it out very quickly, adjusting the settings as the manta headed straight towards me.
This was really “staring down the barrel” as I intuitively made some changes with no time for another test shot. A quick glance up and I’m thinking “don’t panic, don’t panic, it’s not here yet” and with the adjustments frantically made, the manta was upon me. This time I captured a small sequence of shots as it soared past. Yes!
But the action wasn’t finished yet. As there wasn’t any current, we turned around and headed in the direction of the manta, back towards the cleaning station we’d passed earlier in the dive. By the time we arrived there, most divers were low on air and close to deco but there was one final spectacle to enjoy before we ascended back to the surface.
The lone manta was indeed at the cleaning station as we had hoped, but it wasn’t alone for long as it was soon joined by another. For a few minutes we watched them circle the cleaning station, with all divers behaving impeccably by respecting their space so as not to spook them. It was a great encounter.
<Read about this trip here>