Rays

Picture this: It’s a balmy afternoon off the coast of Bali, and I’m floating face-down in the turquoise shallows, heart pounding like a drum in my chest. My snorkel mask fogs slightly from my excited breaths as a shadow glides beneath me—massive, graceful, like a living kite dancing on invisible strings. That’s my first encounter … Read more

Picture this: I’m knee-deep in the turquoise shallows of Grand Cayman, heart pounding as a southern stingray glides right under my feet like a shadowy kite on the wind. It was 2012, my first real snorkel trip after years of dreaming about the ocean from behind a desk. That moment—captured in a blurry phone pic … Read more

Picture this: It’s a balmy afternoon off the coast of Hawaii, the kind where the sun kisses the waves just right, turning the ocean into a shimmering blue dream. I’m floating there, snorkel in mouth, heart pounding like a drum in my chest—my first real encounter with a giant manta ray. This massive creature glides … Read more

Hey there, fellow ocean lover. Picture this: You’re drifting along a sun-dappled reef, bubbles rising lazily from your regulator, when a massive shadow eclipses the light above. It’s a manta ray, wings unfurling like a living kite, circling closer with that curious tilt of its head. My first encounter like that, off the coast of … Read more

Picture this: It’s a balmy evening off the Big Island in Hawaii, the sun dipping low like it’s in no hurry to leave. I’m floating there, mask fogging up from my own goofy grin, when this massive shadow glides under me—wings spanning wider than my arms stretched out, graceful as a dancer in slow motion. … Read more

Picture this: It’s dusk off the rugged coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, and I’m bobbing in the warm Pacific, snorkel in mouth, heart pounding like a drum. A shadow glides beneath me—massive, graceful, like a living blanket unfurling in the current. Then, those curious eyes lock onto mine, and up it comes, somersaulting lazily, mouth … Read more

Imagine gliding through crystal-clear turquoise waters off the coast of Hawaii, your snorkel mask fogging just a bit from the excitement. Suddenly, a massive shadow passes overhead—like a UFO from the deep blue, but way more graceful. That’s a manta ray, one of the ocean’s true showstoppers. I remember my first encounter vividly; I was … Read more

Picture this: I’m floating off the coast of Kona, Hawaii, mask fogging up from my excited breaths, when a massive shadow glides past like a living UFO. Heart pounding, I think it’s a stingray—until it loops back, those horn-like fins funneling water like a gentle vacuum, and I realize it’s a manta ray, the ocean’s … Read more

Imagine slipping into warm, turquoise waters off a remote island, your snorkel mask fogging slightly from the thrill. Suddenly, a shadow glides overhead—massive, diamond-shaped, like a living kite. It’s a manta ray, and she’s not alone. A parade of males trails her, twisting through the current in perfect sync. This isn’t just swimming; it’s a … Read more

Imagine slipping into the warm, ink-black waters off Kona’s coast just after sunset, your snorkel mask fogging slightly from the thrill. The boat’s lights cut through the dark, drawing in tiny specks of plankton like stars falling into the sea. Then, out of the depths, they appear—those graceful shadows unfolding like living kites, somersaulting closer … Read more