There was never any doubt in my mind that the first time I’d see a manta underwater I’d get emotional. That I would get over taken by a swell of happy tears. On the first day, on the first dive, one glides right by me. Right on cue the emotions well up — a mix of awe and happiness that I get to witness these beautiful creatures up close. Socorro mantas are special. They are inquisitive and very friendly, willing to come up close to divers and interact.
Diving with a single manta — one who chooses to come close to investigate — is magical. But seeing three at the same time is otherworldly. Watching them dance and glide with each other, as though performing an underwater ballet.
But the true manta magic occurs on the final two days of diving.
On the final two dives of our last two days we are treated to a spectacular show. Three mantas, gliding in from the blue, to grace us with their presence. One comes in slowly at first and of course it’s a thrill. But in the distance, we can see two others — their silhouettes swaying in the water column. It’s an incredible sight. The fly through the water, two mantas following the first. Several groups of divers in the water — all thirty of us — are mesmerized by the sight in front of us. How lucky we are, to see not one, not two, but three mantas. And to have them so curious they’ll come in for close encounters.
At some point time seems to stop as one gorgeous female, with a wingspan of at least twenty feet, glides in right in front of me. She comes up short in the water to show me her entire underside before gliding down making eye contact and the flying right over me, nearly skimming the top of my head. The moment is something far beyond my wildest dreams for encounters with a manta. It feels, very much, that in that moment that one manta and I connected on a very basic level.
Hours later, other divers tell me they saw the encounter. Tell me they are jealous. Tell me it was incredible to witness. Hours later, I am still riding the high of that encounter.
My heart physically aches a little when the dive is over, knowing that I won’t get to see these beautiful creatures anytime soon. But this encounter will be burned into my mind — recalling it when I need a dose of manta magic.