Just got back from a couple of days of diving on the Big Island.  Had a
great time and made lots of new friends.  Meet another Dive Master with a
stick up his butt, too.   It must be that I'm getting older because I'm just
*so unwilling* to put up with sh.t from some scrawny 25 year-old.  This
guy's issue was "deco."  He told us that he knew our computers could
calculate deco but if he caught anyone doing it; "they were out of the water
for the day."  Trying to be light, I jokingly asked if we could; "just call
it an extended safety stop."  He just glared at me and repeated; "you're out
of the water for the day."  I don't know why but that sure rubbed me the
wrong way.  Perhaps it's because I was diving when he was still in
diapers?...

Anyway, back to the subject at hand.  While we were there, we finally got
around to doing the Manta Ray Night Dive.  (
http://www.jacksdivinglocker.com/charters2/mantanight.htm ) It was truly
awesome!!!  I can not recommend it enough.  But while sitting on the bottom
and watching these huge beasts pass within inches of my head, I couldn't
help wondering *how is this any different than a shark dive?*  I mean, by
placing lights on the ocean floor to attract plankton that will then attract
the Manta Rays, we were technically "chumming the waters."  And it is my
belief that the behavior of the Mantas has been altered in a  long term
sense.  Having dove in Hawaii a fair bit, I can tell you it is extremely
rare to see a Manta Ray during the day.  Other than this dive, I have only
seen them briefly and from a distance during dusk dives.  But I'm told that
if you return to "Eel Gardens" (the site of the Manta Ray Night Dive) during
the day the chances are good that you'll see one then.

Any opinions?

suds