Kingdom of manta rays, Phuket

Today on Tuesday I had a diving day again. First two dives on Racha Noi and last one on Racha Yai. I have dived on Racha Noi only ones before in February 2004 and on that day I saw first time manta ray. Now before dives we heard divers have seen mantas here also on the last dives so the expectation was very high.

Dive #: 179
Date: 15.2.2011
Place: Thailand, Phuket, Racha Noi, South Tip
Depth: 32,9m Average depth: 15,2m
Bottom time: 55min
Visibility: 10-15m
Sea Temperature: +29C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: short 3mm Weight: 5,5Kg

Dive Center: Chalong Sea Sport
Price: 3700THB/90€ + Equipment rental 500THB/12,20€

Total: 4200THB/102,40€ (3 dives)

Immidiately in the beginning of the dive we saw two mantas.

Here is another.

And more.

Then we saw something which is not so common. This manta was totally black! Manta in stealth mode. Looks very cool!

Big group of barracudas.

Very good dive indeed! So many mantas. Few times we saw two mantas in the same time. There was also big group of gold-band fusilier. Also big group of some very small fishes.

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Dive #: 180
Date: 15.2.2011
Place: Thailand, Phuket, Racha Noi, Marina Bay
Depth: 26,8m Average depth: 14,3m
Bottom time: 60min
Visibility: 10-15m
Sea Temperature: +28C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: short 3mm Weight: 5,5Kg

Here are many swim through places.

Yellow box fish.

Crab between the rocks.

Very small scorpion fish.

Some divers saw manta also on this dive, but we didn't. On this place there are lot of rocks and boulders, but also some hard corals. Moray eels, trigger fishes and small reef fishes.

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Dive #: 181
Date: 15.2.2011
Place: Thailand, Phuket, Racha Yai, Bungalow Bay South
Depth: 19,8m Average depth: 9,7m
Bottom time: 61min
Visibility: 10-15m
Sea Temperature: +29C

Equipment
Bottle: 12L/200bar (air) Wetsuit: short 3mm Weight: 5,5Kg

There are lot of rocks and boulders on this area. Also small reef fishes, titan triggers, parrot fishes, puffers, etc. Here moray eel.

Great diving day. Especially first dive was one of the best ever. I really enjoyed that dive!

Phuket,

Mika