Nick Steele
Contributor
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.
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.