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travel Socorro Islands

THIS PAGE: Scenes
from a close encoun-
ter with a manta ray

riding policy so not to cause any stress groups.
in these magnificent animals, in hopes Aside from the mantas, on the occa-
that they will continue to freely visit the sional calm day when surface action is
sites. minimal, a diver can easily swim around
A manta photo identification system the “boiler” and several small deeper
is supplied with regular images taken pinnacles. If water conditions permit,
by the dive charter clients from both photographers will be delighted with
boats and crew in an effort to learn intermittent clusters of yellow gorgonian
more about the individual mantas who sea fans, numerous species of moray
frequent this and other island groups eels and more colourful fish than you
around the world. can keep track of. Lobsters huddling
The program was started and is main- together under ledges, small family
tained by Dr Bob Rubin and Karey Kumli groups of longnose butterflyfish and sev-
of the Pacific Manta Research Group eral species of angelfish all make great
(manta-research.org), a division of the photo subjects at this location.
Department of Biology at the Santa
Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa Isla Socorro
California. This identification system has The largest of the Revillagigedos islands,
allowed the research group to catalog Isla Socorro, can be found 48 km (30
over 130 individuals over the past three miles) south of San Benedicto. A rich
years and record numerous re-sightings vegetation of sage, grass and cactus
in the Revillagigedos alone. Information cover most of the island, giving it a rich
on population size, the health, behavior green appearance from the water.
and travel habits will also provide impor- Brown, red and tan-coloured stone,
tant data for other scientific research highlighted by oval surface patterns,

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