Captain Mike

Yup, that's the name of this manta ray. Sorry, mobula ray. Following recent genetic research, manta rays, previously belonging to the genus Manta, were reclassified to the genus Mobula, or devil rays. With their strong similarities to other species in that genus, this is certainly not a surprise to many, but does that mean we should start calling the two ex-manta species mobulas, too?

As for this shot, it was taken off the coast of Hawaii, at a location where mantas are known to gather at night to feed on plankton. In this particular site, an interesting symbiosis between divers and mantas takes place: the dive lights attract plankton, and the rays know this makes for easy snacking. In return, divers are often treated to close encounters, and I'll go as far as to say that it was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. Pictures simply don't do it justice, but I wanted to share one nonetheless. This particular manta, a male named Captain Mike, has been frequenting the site since 2008, and can be recognized by the unique pattern of spots on the ventral side, and a crooked tail.