Swam with first manta ray!!

[Nick Steele]

So today started pretty bad with some college research getting canceled last minute when I was already on my way. So with all my snorkel stuff in the car I head to South ft lauderdale area and decide to go look at some reefs for lobster.
Vis was a little sketchy to start with maybe 5' but once on the reef it got to 15-20' at times. So after looking under tons of coral heads with no lobster to account for I decide to just enjoy the surroundings instead. I spotted a octopus scatter under a ledge so I go down to watch him for a little. On my way back to the surface I do my usual 360 degree turn around to see my surroundings and I spot a black figure about 20' in the distance so I keep my eye on it to see what it is and it just keeps coming towards me and that's when I noticed it was about a 10-12ft manta ray!
I swam with him for about 15 minutes to embrace it's beauty. I know many people see these guys but I feel lucky seeing one within my first 6 months of regularly freediving. Just wanted to share my first manta sighting with the forums.

 

[scubaguy655]

Congrats! Sounds like a fantastic experience. Still on my wish to see list.

 

[Skeptic14]

Very cool, still waiting myself for an eagle or manta encounter!

 

[sportxlh]

Cool story....I've only seen 2 in Florida and neither were as the big one you saw. Thanks for sharing

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Yeah, I've seen maybe a dozen or so, but they were like 8 ft across max.. never big ones..

 

[jimw]

Very cool, still waiting myself for an eagle or manta encounter!

If you dive Blue Heron Bridge, you will see Eagle Rays. I say about 1 out of 5 dives one would encounter eagles.

 

[Nick Steele]

Cool story....I've only seen 2 in Florida and neither were as the big one you saw. Thanks for sharing

I seen one about 4-5 yrs ago out fishing on Deerfield pier that was about 20ft wide. Thing had 20+ cobia on it and 6 were caught lol

 

[iamrushman]

you never know what your going to see when in the ocean...congrats of a bucket list accomplishment.........

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Awesome. I saw my first and only a year and a half ago off the beach. Been diving since 1993...

 

[Blues Runner]

Awesome experience for you Nick. I have not had the fortune to encounter a Manta in the Atlantic or Caribbean. I did have the opportunity to do a night Manta dive in Kona last year that was an amazing experience. I have included a few of my favorite pictures.