Learn about our famous Kona Manta Rays in the original PADI Manta Ray Diver Specialty course. This program includes two dives on the Manta Ray Night Dive trip along with an academic session prior to the dives. Based on research conducted by Keller Laros, this specialty course covers information about manta anatomy, feeding, cleaning, and reproduction as well as how to identify individual rays in the local population. Conservation guidelines and proper diving technique will also be covered. The PADI Manta Ray Diver Specialty certification will count toward the PADI Master Scuba Diver rating – the highest rating in recreational scuba diving.
Download Continuing Education Form
Download Manta Ray Diver Course Materials
COST:
- $225 plus tax
PREREQUISITES:
- Jr. Open Water Diver or higher
- Age 12 or older
- Please bring certification card
REGISTRATION:
- Please call the shop directly to make your reservation at
800-345-4807 or locally 808-329-7585.
- Please review the Medical Statement, if there is a YES to any
question, you must get a doctor's approval before starting the
course. Please call for assistance.
- 72 hour cancellation policy. Changes or cancellations prior
to 72 hours, no fee. Within 72 hours, charged in full.
WE PROVIDE:
- Instruction
- Two boat dives
- Tanks, weights, underwater light
- Course materials
STUDENTS PROVIDE:
- BCD, Regulator, Wetsuit, MSF
- Rental gear $8.50 per piece
- Dive computer (optional)
- Logbook
DISCOUNTS:
- 10% off most regular priced merchandise after class
- $5.00 off other dive charters
DAYS and TIMES:
- One day only - scheduled on Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri., Sun.
- 2:15 p.m. – 10 p.m. April 1st thru August 31st
- 1:45 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. September 1st thru March 31st
PREPARATION:
- Please read the PADI Manta Ray Diver Specialty course
materials before the course. These materials are available on the
Jack's Diving Locker web site at www.jacksdivinglocker.com.
CLASS SCHEDULE:
- Check-in: Meet at Jack’s Diving Locker town location prior to class
start time with printed out registration document, course materials,
certification card, and method of payment.
- Classroom: Instructor Presentation
- Classroom: Manta Ray Diver Specialty Exam
- Boat: Sunset and Night Dives
- Classroom: Fill out Logbook
- Certification issued upon successful completion of course
Note: Although manta ray sightings are very consistent throughout the year, this certification does not require a manta sighting.
MASTER SCUBA DIVER RATING:
The PADI Master Scuba Diver is the highest rating in non-professional recreational diving. To achieve this rating the diver must complete the following certifications: Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, and 5 PADI Specialty courses. In addition, divers must have at least 50 logged dives. When completing these requirements at Jack’s Diving Locker, recipients will have their names engraved on a plaque to honor this achievement.
GUIDELINES FOR YOUR MANTA RAY ENCOUNTER:
OBSERVE ONLY: No touching. Resist the urge to “pet” the mantas. This will rub off their protective mucus coating. Do not chase, grab, or try to take a ride on the mantas. This doesn’t benefit the animal in anyway.
DIVER POSITION: Divers please stay on or near the sand, rubble or boulder bottom. An open water column is necessary for the mantas to maneuver. Avoid contact with coral, sea urchins, or other marine life. Form a semi-circle with your group.
SNORKELER POSITION: Snorkelers please stay on the surface. Do not dive down into the water column where the mantas are feeding.
LIGHTS: Divers please shine lights up into the water column to attract plankton. Snorkelers please shine lights down.
BUBBLES: Divers please avoid exhaling bubbles directly into the manta’s face.
TAKING PHOTOS or VIDEO: Photographers and videographers please be considerate of others. Adhere to these guidelines and let the mantas come to you.
These guidelines were originally drafted by the dive operators in Kona, Hawaii and PADI’s Project AWARE. They’re redistributed here by Manta Pacific Research Foundation. For more information go to www.mantapacific.org. |
MANTA PACIFIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION: Manta Pacific Research Foundation (MPRF) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to study manta rays in their natural habitat, conduct scientific research, provide education programs for the public about manta rays and the marine environment, and to establish and promote manta ray conservation.
MPRF’s research includes identifying local popluations, collecting long term population data, and conducting scientific studies. For more information about manta rays and to access the full identification catalog, please visit www.mantapacific.org.
KELLER LAROS, MANTA MAN: Keller Laros, a.k.a. Manta Man, is the foremost expert on the manta ray population of Kona, Hawaii. Laros was able to combine his career as a professional scuba instructor and underwater videographer with manta ray research. Keller is a charismatic individual who is passionate about what he does. If you’ve ever gone diving with Keller, you know this to be true.
Laros did his first Manta Ray Night Dive with Jack’s Diving Locker in 1985 - the same year in he became a PADI Scuba Instructor. In 1991, Keller moved to Kona and went to work at Jack's Diving Locker guiding divers on the Manta Ray Night Dive. He immediately noticed the mantas had different spot patterns on their undersides and started cataloging individuals and recording sighting data. As the years passed, Keller conducted in-depth study on manta rays and by 1996 authored a PADI Distinctive Specialty - Manta Ray Diver. This course is one of the most popular certifications issued at Jack's Diving Locker. Keller leads a motivated and enthusiastic team of Manta Ray Diver instructors and Manta Ray Diver certified staff.
In 2002, Keller and wife, Wendy, co-founded Manta Pacific Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to research, education, and conservation concerning manta rays and the marine environment. In 2009, the conservation efforts of Manta Pacific Research Foundation were realized when Governor Linda Lingle signed a manta protection law for the State of Hawaii. Keller is President of Manta Pacific Research Foundation and works alongside a dedicated group of board members and scientists. For more information about the Foundation go to www.mantapacific.org.
Jack’s Diving Locker donates a portion of all Manta Ray Diver Specialty course fees to Manta Pacific Research Foundation.
|
