“So majestic. I couldn’t believe how slow and smooth they could move, but also swim fast when needed”
William Solis – Underwater Photographer
Freediving with giant manta rays, with no oxygen tank, exploring the ocean floor, one breath at a time. It must be an incredible experience to dive next to one of the largest fish in the ocean. Photographer William Solis experienced this special moment on a dive on Lady Elliot Island just off the coast of Queensland. It was during a freediving course by Johannes Egberts. Giant manta rays can reach a wingspan of up to eight metres and weigh up to two tons. They are majestic animals that are still little studied and rare to witness.
They have hardly any natural enemies and show no fear even of humans. It is a dream of every diver to be in the ocean with the giants that never sleep, always swimming. The movement of giant manta rays resembles the beating of a bird’s wings in slow motion. Not only do they move in a special way, they also have a lot of brain mass in relation to their body weight, similar to a chimpanzee. Their memory and orientation skills are also very good.
Absolutely fantastic. I felt such peace and grace while observing them. They move so majestically. You feel a gratitude to even observe them, to be in their presence and share the same space as them. I imagined moving my body the way they swim. I still see them in my mind from time to time.
Bright sunlight penetrates the water best. So the clearer the sky, the better. Intentionally include the surroundings in the image as it gives context to the main subject. It’s difficult to see depth in an image, so have objects nearby to create perspective. Timing is much more important as everything moves slower underwater. In fact, it’s best to slow down in general. So many times I have rushed to photograph an animal only to have a better shot a split second later.
Through a lot of preparation and progression. I massage my diaphragm, calm my breathing, visualise relaxation, gradually improve my carbon dioxide tolerance and more. Gradually, the body and mind adjust, so you just allow yourself to go through the phases. The need for external support is replaced by internal, self-sufficient support.
That sense of progression where at first it feels impossible, but then experiencing those small successes with depths and comfort. After a challenge, that calm washes over and I’m just present, even for a moment. The water feels inviting and completely envelops me, something you just don’t experience on land. As I surface, I feel calmer, like I’m coming out of a deep meditation.
It shows me where I stand. It’s nature’s way of reminding me that I have the strength to take care of myself. When I am calm and go through the phases properly, everything goes great. I feel so confident and strong in myself. The leg kicks feel solid, the one breath is enough to get me through. My focus is relaxed. I can appreciate the animals, the corals, and the accomplishment of reaching such a state. My goal is to reach 25 metres and just feel comfortable. I want to be able to stay on the bottom longer with the camera.
Maybe you’ve tried diving to the bottom of the ocean before, but realised halfway down that the urge to inhale could no longer be stopped. So you resurfaced. But it’s not the abstinence from oxygen that literally forces our bodies to inhale. It is the carbon content that forces this mechanism. That’s why freediving focuses on training carbon dioxide tolerance, because the better the body can tolerate the higher level, the longer the air can be held. This is also the focus of Will’s training to stay underwater longer. You can do exercises to help build tolerance or take a freediving class that introduces you to breath work, or come on a retreat with us to Lady Elliot itself!.
If you can hold your breath for an extended time, you might even get lucky and see the giant manta rays. They are wonderful gentle animals, whose lack of shyness is unfortunately also their fatality. In many places they are hunted. In addition, they feed mainly on small marine life such as plankton, shrimps and smaller fish, which unfortunately means that also a lot of micro plastic ends up in their stomach.
Some organisations, like Project Manta Ray are currently studying these incredible creatures, of whom we don’t know all that much about. If you take a photograph of a manta ray, and send it to them, they will investigate which manta it is, where it came from and where is probably heading. The unique spots the mantas have in their bellies are like a digital print, each unique. If you happen to take a photo of a manta ray no one has taken a photo of before, you get to name it! Yay!
Still the population of the animals is stable, but in the future we should work for the protection of the manta rays. Organisations like Greenpeace or PADI are already actively protecting the giant manta rays, which we should protect together.
Written by Zoe Levit 
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