Joel BergsmaUnderwater photographer · Expedition diver

Palau07°21'N 134°29'EJan 201125 photos

Manta Rays at the German Channel, January 2011

Manta rays seen while diving in Palau in January 2011.

← Palau

Photo opp. A black manta ray circles the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. Note its tail is curved behind it as it circles.A diver from Rome, Italy, (Sandro) unexpectedly turns toward me as a manta glides by. Made for a nice photo for him. 2011-01-15.Photo opp. A manta ray with a white underbelly circles the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau.A manta ray with a white underbelly circles the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. A fellow diver is on the right. We try to hide behind the coral to avoid scaring the manta.
A manta ray with black underbelly circles the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. Two divers kneel on the sand in the distance to view the manta. The stick in the picture's bottom is soft coral. A remora appears to portrude from the back of the manta, and a cleaner fish trails the manta. 2011-01-15.A black manta ray circles the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. Three divers kneel in the sand to watch. 2011-01-15.A black manta ray circles the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. The hole in the center of the manta is, in fact, a white spot on its black underbelly. 2011-01-15.A black manta ray circles the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. 2011-01-15.
A black manta ray circles the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. What appears in this photo to be a "hole" in the center of the manta is, in fact, a patch of white skin. 2011-01-15.A black manta ray circles the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. 2011-01-15.A black manta ray with white underbelly rises above the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. 2011-01-15.A black manta ray with white underbelly circles the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. 2011-01-15.
A black manta ray with white underbelly circles the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau.A black manta ray with white underbelly rises above the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. 2011-01-15.A black manta ray with white underbelly is shown with its cleaner fish. It circles above the coral balmy cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. 2011-01-15. Each manta ray has unique markings on its belly, so they are readily identifiable.A black manta ray with white underbelly circles below me.
A black manta ray with white underbelly circles below me.A manta ray approaches its cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. 2011-01-22.My dive buddy B.R. takes aim at the manta with his camera as it circles the cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. 2011-01-22.My dive buddy B.R. swims after the manta with his camera ready as it circles its cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. 2011-01-22.
A black manta ray with white underbelly circles the cleaning station located at a coral balmy at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. 2011-01-22.A manta with its wings raised circles the cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. The manta's eye portrudes from its body. 2011-01-22.A manta with its wings raised circles the cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. 2011-01-22.A manta with its wings raised circles the cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. 2011-01-22.
A manta circles the cleaning station at the mouth of the German Channel, Palau. 2011-01-22.