Day 2 Pic of the Day (shot, score!)

surfnh · Post by **surfnh** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 9:41 pm

Ok, Manta is scored, pics below. Getting the pic was a riot though. We did an early morning snorkel out around Mary's Point at Francis, and I figured we'd explore out towards the middle of the bay on the way back to get a pic of the manta for everyone. Go figure, no manta on my way back, isn't it always the same!

So, I get out and hang on the beach for 15 min with the gang, then all of a sudden all hell breaks loose on Francis, people running for their gear, the manta has appeared!! So its like crossing times square on new years eve, people running in the water. I watch all this going on, the manta passes by about 40' out with the manta frenzy following close behind. Its heading south along the beach, I'm thinking I'm not gonna be with those bums chasing a freaking fish, I'll just wait for it to turn around at the south end of Francis and return through the middle of the bay.

I snorkel out to the middle, watch the frenzy slowly turn 100 yards away and start coming back towards me! I'm smarter than them, its true!!!

They get closer and closer, I'm sitting directly in their path and getting my camera ready.....I'm nervous, this is like the running of the bulls! As they get close, I put my face in the water and get the first shot, the thing is coming right at me! Its huge, I turn and get another top shot.....then before I'm run over by the frenzy, I dive under them all and get about 15' deep, swim fast to get next to this beast, and get a side shot. I take my time coming up, by the time I surface the frenzy has passed by and I've lived to see another day!

By the way, my wife got run over by the frenzy as I got the pics. Also, one of my sons was snorkeling back from Mary's Point, and a guy and woman on a dingy drove by him and yelled "hey buddy, there's a manta ray right there!". My son goes to see, its a turtle, yeah right, just another example of manta mania.

Now we hear there's a flamingo hanging out in the Francis Bay trail...this will be the follow-up to manta mania!

Okay, enough manta mania for us....after lunch at the house we went to Trunk for afternoon beach time, no one there! Everyone is at Francis and Maho for the mania!

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/a ... site"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4tW1 ... 040673.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/i ... site"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c8U0 ... 040674.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1 ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wqZm ... 040675.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a>

augie · Post by **augie** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 9:49 pm

Bravo!

GraysonDave · Post by **GraysonDave** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 9:57 pm

Lmao. Great story and great shots, especially that first one!

lprof · Post by **lprof** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:14 pm

Excellent! And what the others said!

loria · Post by **loria** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:35 pm

wow... how lucky you are!

Kentuckygirl · Post by **Kentuckygirl** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:43 pm

Nice!

Exit Zero · Post by **Exit Zero** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:17 pm

Great pics and and even better effort! Thanks

lpowmacback · Post by **lpowmacback** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:26 pm

Awesome!!!!

cindygad · Post by **cindygad** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:31 am

Great pictures. What an exhilarating experience. I felt I was in the Jaws movie when it was coming at me. Your pictures are so much better than mine. What a beautiful creature!

Chris @ Work · Post by **Chris @ Work** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:46 am

Great, Francis has been our favorite beach. I must admit to following all posts & pics about the manta and would love to see the it when we visit but I really hope it goes to another beach and takes the mania with it.

PSUWethr · Post by **PSUWethr** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:12 am

What great pics. Thanks!

FinsUp · Post by **FinsUp** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:56 am

Oh the stories you can tell!! This just adds to it, Nice job!! It's safe to say I will not be getting photos like yours if that's what it took!!

ColumbiaSCTraveler · Post by **ColumbiaSCTraveler** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:00 am

WHOA. AWESOME pix!!!! Wonder if he'll still be around in August?!?

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:39 am

Fantastic photos and great story! John and I had a similar experience with "the frenzy" a couple of years ago with wild dolphins at Leinster Bay. We did the same thing that you did and got some great photos!

You should share your pictures with the Friends of the VINP page if you are on facebook. Good luck with the flamingo hunt!

surfnh · Post by **surfnh** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 12:08 pm

Thanks all.....by the way, we saw this little puppy out at the point yesterday....after manta mania it was a bit of a let down!

usvi-on-line

Login or Register with your Facebook account

Day 2 Pic of the Day (shot, score!)

Day 2 Pic of the Day (shot, score!)