Like many elasmobranchs, manta rays spend their whole life in motion, allowing them to breath and feed by filtering water. All Rights Reserved. Additionally we find 17 species of marine mammals and 22 species of sharks. If you google this subject, it’s likely that Manta Sandy will be the first dive site on the list. The Blue Manta can hold up to 22 guests in one of the 14 beautifully furnished cabins that span three decks. No more than 20 divers and snorkelers can be at the site at a time. The data from these sightings has been used to legislate against fishing manta rays in Indonesia and helped create a nationwide fishing ban in 2014. Raja Manta is a high quality boat, modern and spacious and will take a maximum 20 guests on Indonesia trips. During co-operative feeding, one manta will swim behind another and catch the zooplankton that jumps out of the way of the first manta, straight into the mouth of the second manta.Image donated by Dr Andrea Marshall, MMF. 2 persons / room. Raja Ampat’s Unterwasserwelt beherbergt nicht nur einige der wohl schönsten und dichtesten Korallenriffe der Welt, auch die Vielfältigkeit der Flora und Fauna ist kaum erreicht. Most of them visit Raja Ampat to explore the underwater beauty, as many dive sites are available there. 3D Model. A video of a giant manta ray sighting at Indonesia’s stunning Raja Ampat islands reminds us what’s at stake this World Oceans Day. During our Blue Manta 2018 Christmas trip we had a very special guest onboard, Alrescha Aji Damiri, who is 9 years old and from Jakarta was lucky enough to join our guests and crew in the beautiful waters of Raja Ampat, enjoying some amazing experiences both in the water and onboard. For business / Cancel. They are also caught accidentally in fishing nets or line, inflecting severe wounds or death. Manta rays are the largest rays in the world. Here is an example of a perfect manta ID picture of a male reef manta. KM Raja Manta have just completed an epic crossing from Raja Ampat, across the Halmahera Sea, finishing in the macro haven of Lembeh Straits. Manta rays now benefit from an international protection, with the inclusion of both species in CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) (Appendix 1 and 2) in 2011 and in CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species) (Appendix 2) in 2013. Untuk dapat menuju tempat yang sangat menakjubkan ini, anda dapat mengaksesnya dari Sorong menuju Kepulauan Wayag yang memerlukan waktu sekitar 6 jam perjalanan. Diving in Raja Ampat. Her mouth and pectoral wings edge are also much lighter than the Giant manta ray. The manta project is working with you - citizen scientists. He soon became the first person to use acoustic and satellite telemetry to monitor movement patterns of individuals and through this research provided the government ministries of Indonesia the data needed to push forward legislation protecting manta rays at a national level in the entire archipelago. This is a very popular manta cleaning station off the southwest side of Gam Island. Manta Rays in Raja Ampat. Copying their smooth, slow movements is the best way to behave around them. Most of the mantas are black on their back and white on their belly. A single room bungalow (no ensuite bathroom/toilet) Sleeps max. Raja Ampat and the Birds Head Seascape, found to the west of Papua mainland is a biological hotspot where deep water upwellings bring nutrient rich, plankton filled water up to the surface. To prevent overcrowding and protect the mantas, there are regulations governing tourism at Manta Sandy. In fact, manta rays use their cephalic fins to direct plankton directly into their mouth. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see all of our activities for science, conservation and awareness during 2020 lockdown. He founded the Manta Project while working in Komodo in 2010 and began working in Raja Ampat the following year. It is also the best place in the world to observe melanistic mantas (black mantas). Of course, you must respect their space. ecosphere: Manta Ray (Raja Ampat) Your model is disabled. raja ampat, indonesia. We saw more mantas during snorkeling around the area than we were scuba diving, but it was a good dive site. Manta Ray Research Programme The team at Jejak Kaki Konservasi are running a manta ray ID program in Raja Ampat, building up a database on these amazing creatures. Reef manta (Mobula alfredi) from the top. You can also observe the large dark edge of pectoral fins. Reef mantas are the first ones we can encounter (October-March) while the Giant mantas usually arrive later (February-may). Contact Sophie Azam, our manager at SEA Centre – Papua Explorers Foundation. Filmed at Misool Eco Resort in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. But some black (melanistic) and white (leucistic) polymorphs also exists. DonateGet InvolvedJoin Us For A Special Trip!About Raja AmpatOur ProjectsWho We AreRaja Ampat SEA Centre is a conservation initiative established by Papua Explorers Resort. You can see manta rays at several places in the Raja Ampat islands, but this is the premiere place to see them reliably and in large numbers. premium. Earlier we published split panoramas of manta rays on Maldives with the story of shooting. All you have to do is to wait peacefully and enjoy the show. Show more Manta Ridge is located equidistant from Mansuar and Airborei islands to the west northwest, to the south of Waigeo Island. For this programme, we are building a photographic catalogue of manta rays that allows us to follow individual during their life. The greatest threats for the conservation of mantas and more largely the family of mobulids are target and incidental fisheries. With especially developed areas for learning, problem solving and communicating. The Giant manta ray reaches up to 7m disc width and the Reef manta rays up to 5.5m. This would make them one of the most intelligent marine species! Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, housing a significant part of the coral triangle and has the highest fish biodiversity recorded globally. Rays are smart and peaceful animals that like to interact with divers. They cover the main known functional zones for manta rays and ensure their protection. Most of our manta dive site are located between 15 and 30 minutes away from the resort. Having witnessed first-hand the targeted mobulid fisheries in Indonesia, it became his mission to discover more about the two manta species and how to protect them. Manta Ridge Raja Ampat dive site. The unique spot pattern on their belly is like a fingerprint that allows us to identify each of them! We don’t know yet why filter feeders would develop such an extraordinary brain. This season, we witnessed there more than 100 individuals at the same time! Follow. In a few months’ time, we’ll be setting sail to Indonesia’s Raja Ampat, one of the world’s most unspoilt marine regions with the highest marine biodiversity on Earth. We also often see them in Manta Sandy, which benefit from easier conditions for beginners and snorkelers. The Blue Manta Our vessel is the gorgeous 148 ft steel hulled Blue Manta Liveaboard. Raja Ampat is one of the few places in the world where visitors can observe both species. Together we adapted the dive site with demarcations and buoys. Manta Sandy is the most popular manta ray dive and snorkel site in Raja Ampat. Here, Raja Ampat benefits of 8 marine protected areas (MPA). In Raja Ampat there are multiple sites where divers and snorkelers alike can watch oceanic and reef mantas clean and interact together, thus is it of great importance to protect this area from unsustainable fishing practices. PHORIA. Did you know that Raja Ampat hosts the largest known population of melanistic manta rays?Image by Debbie Arriaga, Our Ocean Images. Recording over 700 individual oceanic manta rays in the Birds Head Seascape, The first use of acoustic and satellite tags in Indonesia to monitor movement of individuals over time, The creation of a nationwide fishing ban on manta rays in Indonesia, The creation of the Raja Ampat Shark and Manta Sanctuary, Population dynamics of oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) in the Raja Ampat Archipelago, West Papua, Indonesia, and the impacts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation on their movement ecology (2019), Spatial ecology and conservation of Manta birostris in the Indo-Pacific (2016). Image by Jerry Arriaga, Our Ocean Images. A room in a bungalow with 2 or more rooms and … Here they also meet for social interactions like playing or mating. Image by Debbie Arriaga, Our Ocean Images, Reef manta (Mobula alfredi) seen from the belly. Among the most impressive ones barrel roll feeding, bottom feeding, chain feeding or again cyclone feeding. 1 talking about this. Yet, very little is known about their ecology and behavior, most of the observations being made around coastal cleaning stations. The 36m KM Raja Manta (formerly M/V White Manta) is a luxury liveaboard scheduling year round diving cruises to the waters surrounding the Banda Sea, Raja Ampat and Sangalaki of … RAJA AMPAT MANTA PROJECT Established 2010. Both species of manta; Reef and Oceanic (Mobula alfredi & Mobula birostris) are found in Indonesia however they are rarely seen together. Raja Ampat sudah lama dikenal dengan pemandangan bawah lautnya yang memanjakan. **Raja Ampat (or the Four Kings)** is an archipelago consisting of the islands of Misoool, Salawati, Batanta, and Wiageo which are surrounded by over 1,500 small islands and cays. Here you can observe a “Y shape” pattern and a lesser bright white color. Manta rays are a fairly common sight on Raja Ampat liveaboard safaris but Manta Ridge is one of the most reliable places to see them, and see them in large numbers.. Manta Ridge is located between Mansuar Island and Airborei Island. Oceanic manta rays are seen less frequently than reef manta rays in Raja Ampat, and the increase in sightings during anomalously cold conditions could be due to typical water temperatures in the region being above oceanic manta rays’ thermal optimum. In Eastern Indonesia lies the area known as Raja Ampat, this hotspot of diversity is one of the only places in the world where both species are resident. Best time to visit Raja Ampat. We can observe them both at cleaning stations located inside the Dampier Strait, but rarely together. With an increasing demand of gill plates for Asian medicinal markets, the populations of manta rays have decreased dramatically those past decades. Blue Manta Liveaboard is a large, steel-hulled, purpose-built vessel for long haul cruises offers stress-free dive holidays Komodo, Raja Ampat, Banda Sea Coronavirus (COVID-19): Please note that scheduled liveaboard departures and availability listed online may not be accurate. 6.000.000,- Waw, sungguh perjalanan yang menguras kantong! Visually stunning encounters with some of the most graceful creatures in the Ocean, the manta ray. In other locations in Indonesia, manta rays have become locally extinct due to fisheries pressure. 2 x Over water - Room in a bungalow. It engages local community members and international guests in collecting essential data to understand the complex and still poorly known manta rays’ ecology and behavior. Discovering such a nursery area is very important for conservation efforts for this vulnerable species. Manta rays usually follow the northwest monsoons, from October/November to April/May, when deep-water upwelling trigger plankton blooms. The best manta spots in Raja Ampat. We see the more discrete Giant mantas mostly at Blue magic and Cape Kri. The Raja Ampat Manta Project is working with you - citizen scientists to collect photo-ID’s and manages a population database of over 700 oceanic mantas. We continue to work on predicting manta ray movements, specifically under the threats of global climate change and how to best protect these majestic animals in the future. It was clear that greater protection was needed to prevent any further fisheries encroachment. During our dives, we position ourselves outside of cleaning stations. The dive site is a popular manta ray cleaning station that attracts groups of mantas. It’s true, this is a great site for diving or snorkeling with manta … As part of an elaborate courtship ritual, female manta rays lead males on a wild chase through the sea. Upon graduating he moved to Indonesia to follow the fish and began managing conservation-based dive resorts in the archipelago. Even when we thought we wont see them, they will always appear from somewhere to make your dive worthwhile. 2 Views. Raja Ampat Crossword Puzzle – Just for Fun, Papua Explorers Eco Resort – The Beginning, Papua Explorers Reopening for Domestic Tourism, Coconuts in Raja Ampat – Delicious and Versatile. This allows a safe diving with a minimum impact on manta rays. Raja Ampat Archipelago is part of Indonesia. Raja Ampat is one of the few locations in the world where both Reef mantas and Giant mantas can be observed. Join us for one of our manta dive and share with us your picture of manta’s belly! Calvin is an English marine biologist and PADI instructor who fell in love with Indonesia during a summer work trip while at university. Additionally patrols ensure the respect of those rules. Image donated by Dr Andrea Marshall, MMF. Until recently it also had the largest recorded number of landings of manta rays, with targeted fisheries decimating local populations. Do you notice the “T shape” black pattern surrounded by the bright white color? Today, it even becomes more popular among travelers. It is a shallow, sandy area with a lump of coral where mantas congregate. A code of conduct ensures the adoption of good practices by divers and snorkelers and a minimum impact for manta rays. Raja Ampat, CNN Indonesia -- Nuansa biru kehijauan langsung menyergap ketika memasuki air laut di sekitar Arborek, Raja Ampat, Papua Barat. Raja Ampat Shark and Manta Sanctuary: protecting over 1 million acres . Just let them come to you! Giant manta (Mobula birostris) seen from the top. For Reef mantas, our favorite dive site is Manta Ridge cleaning station. Akan tetapi, uang yang anda keluarkan tidak akan p… Now we present 360 video, filmed in Pacific Ocean, near Raja Ampat archipelago of Indonesia. This Reef manta observed near the island of Wai has probably been tangled in a fishing line, leading to the loss of her left cephalic fin. There are trips in Raja Ampat, Ambon and Sangalaki as well as crossing trips between these locations visiting Lembeh and the Ring of Fire - … Concerned about the increasing interest for manta diving, Papua Explorers Eco Resort and several other local actors initiated the creation of the Manta Sandy Patrol Station, near the famous Manta Sandy cleaning station. Biaya wisata Raja Ampat untuk menyewa kapal ini dipatok tarif Rp. Manta Homestay, Pulau Arborek, Raja Ampat. Video stitching by Ivan Roslyakov. In October 2010, the Misool team successfully petitioned the regional government to protect sharks and rays across the entire 1 million acres/40,000 sq km of Raja Ampat. Based at the resort, we are dedicated to conserving Raja Ampat’s marine life through Science, Education & Awareness. But one of the highlights for divers in Raja Ampat are without doubt the manta rays. The most famous one is located near to Arborek Island, which is called Manta Point. Conservation through Research, Education & Collaboration, The Global Mobulid Conservation Programme. We can see here the ventral spot pattern (unique to each manta ray) as well as the sex and the lack of any kind of injuries.Image by Debbie Arriaga, Our Ocean Images. Also the spot patterns on their belly are relevant (see pictures). If you are lucky, you might for example observe them feeding into circle or again chasing each other in a mating ballet. Manta and devil rays are targeted for their gills, they are dried and sold as traditional Chinese medicines. I was told were at least three of them swimming close to the shore. Anyway, we can actually see manta rays anywhere in the Dampier strait during the manta season! You can differentiate those two species mostly by the color and shape of the pattern on their back. A beautiful melanistic (black) Reef manta and her remora companions. Raja Manta Explorer - Raja Ampat Itinerary. Taking pictures of manta rays is a dream of any underwater photographer. Now it is one of Raja Ampat most famous dive sites! Kepulauan Wayag terletak di Desa Waigeo Barat, Kabupaten Raja Ampat, Papua Barat. Papua Explorers Foundation together with the Marine Megafauna Foundation is running a research programme on manta rays’ population in Raja Ampat. Rooms. For more details go to Edit properties. However, those found in Raja Ampat are very unique. Accordingly this knowledge is key to support local, national, and international actions for the protection of manta rays. Bahkan ada titik khusus untuk berenang bersama ikan pari, namun tahukah sobat traveler bahwa ada beberapa aturan menyelam di Manta Sandy Raja Ampat. A code of conduct displays the good practices that boats and divers should adopt. Raja Ampat is known as the global epicenter of marine biodiversity. Then we observe the magical hovering of those giants while tiny fishes meticulously clean them. Manta Rays are one of the species on everyone’s lips when they dive in Indonesia. Papua Explorers Dive Resort is located in one of the most famous one of the region, the Dampier straight MPA. Images and information © 2021 The Manta Trust unless otherwise stated. Its nutrient rich waters allow the flourishing of marine life. It is also the best place in the world to observe melanistic mantas (black mantas). Manta rays are found throughout Indonesia in areas of upwelling nutrient-rich water. Ein australischer Biologe zählte während eines einzigen Tauchgangs vor Kri Island über 280 Fischarten! Having managed dive resorts throughout Indonesia, it was quickly clear how unique and biodiverse the area was, but it wasn’t until he first dived with both oceanic and reef mantas at the same time that he really realised the beauty of the area. These are two of our most fishy dive sites and also amazing to explore outside of the manta season! An example of feeding behavior. Most reef Mantas are dark on the top and light on the bottom, but those in Raja Ampat are dark on both sides. These represent 41% of the manta population. The two species are the Reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) and the Giant manta rays (Mobula birostris). It is not rare to see them passing just on top of your head to play with your bubbles! Manta Sandy has been equipped with demarcations to ensure safe and responsible diving. Video by Alexey Tishchenko. Raja Ampat is one of the few locations in the world where both Reef mantas and Giant mantas can be observed. Image by Debbie Arriaga, Our Ocean Images, Giant manta (Mobula birostris) seen from the belly. Both manta rays are listed on the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red List of threatened species as Vulnerable. The best time to visit Raja Ampat if you’re keen to dive is September to April, when manta rays cruise in and the waters are calm, but at almost any time of year this region is a treat, with a steady climate and warm, clear seas. In 2014, Indonesia declared its whole exclusive economic zone as a manta ray sanctuary, the largest in the world. 3 x On beach - Private bungalow. Accordingly, Raja Ampat has more than 75% of the world’s coral reef species and more than 1600 species of reef fishes. They can be found in Bali, Flores and around Raja Ampat. Sorong - Raja Ampat - Sorong The above schedule is only general in nature, and guarantee departure will be issued if the minimum amount of passengers has been fulfilled, so please contact us directly to get more information about KM Black Manta throught the latest schedule, vessel info and best price deal → These represent 41% of the manta population. Reef Manta Rays. Manta rays are extraordinary animals, fascinating scientists and divers all over the world. Kepulauan Raja Ampat merupakan rangkaian empat gugusan pulau yang berdekatan dan berlokasi di barat bagian Kepala Burung (Vogelkoop) Pulau Papua.Secara administrasi, gugusan ini berada di bawah Kabupaten Raja Ampat, Provinsi Papua Barat.Kepulauan ini sekarang menjadi tujuan para penyelam yang tertarik akan keindahan pemandangan bawah lautnya. Image donated by MMF. They use various feeding strategies. This area is the second reef manta nursery area to be discovered in Raja Ampat, after of course the Wayag lagoon (located in the north-western part of Raja Ampat). You can notice a dark mouth, no spot between the gills but large spots right under the gills and smaller ones between the gills and the tail. For example if you swim straight right at them or after them they might just swim away! Raja Manta Indonesia Liveaboard. Studies show complex social behavior, including courtship and mating events that lucky divers might be able to witness. 27 October 2018 2. Located off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea, in the province of West Papua, Raja Ampat, or the Four Kings, is an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, caves, and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta, Waigeo and the smaller island of Kofiau. The Manta Trust is a registered charity in England & Wales (Charity Number 1145387). 0. login Sign Up Upload. Find out what there is to enjoy here and read expert tips from our Raja Ampat expert. Image by Johann Wuerl, from his trip on Coralia liveaboard. 0 Like. Do you notice the spot patterns between the gills? Volunteers joining an expedition are highly likely to see manta rays while diving in the area. Raja Ampat or ‘Four Kings’ is a true divers paradise, a wonderland lost in time, incredible natural beauty dominates above and below the blue waters; steep jungle covered limestone islands, stunning white sand beaches, hidden lagoons, and dense mangrove forests combine to create over 9.8 million acres of National Park. A 2016 study also showed that mantas might actually be self-aware. Manta rays have disproportionately large brain compared to their body weight (ten times larger than a whale shark’s!).