Today we did the zodiac snorkeling and the manta ray dive. So far today has been my favorite dive. I loved the zodiac boat because of the history and science behind the boat which allowed it to cut through waves. Furthermore, we got to snorkel at a location where very cold and warm water mix creating a special snorkeling adventure. The boat was very cool because zodiac boats were designed for the Navy as attack boats and transportation boats that always come back because they never sink and most radar sensors can’t sense the boat. This is first because the small dingy like boat channels water through flexible types that spray it to the side making it hard to track the small boats and cut through water. Then it has an inflatable collar to stay afloat if sea water falls into it. Then we did the Manta Ray dive. Manta ray’s were seen by pirates who gave them the name devil rays bc the cephalon fins looked like horns while the wings looked like a cape and the tail looked like a staff. However now they are called manta rays. The word manta comes from the Spanish dialect meaning cape. Then they are born at 400 pounds capable of functioning themselves with no parental guidance. They are all born with a unique pattern at the bottom of them which can be used to identify them. They can grow in between 12 and 16 feet long with the females being larger than the males. The mating only lasts 7 seconds. We also saw spinner dolphins on the boat which are very special animals because during the day they shut off parts of their brain to sleep but can still function with the other parts. Then at night they hunt and turn on all parts of their brain. I’m looking forward most to the black water dive tomorrow.
Picture of snorkeling area on zodiac boat:
