Edy Setyawan: Take a deep breath: conserving manta rays through photo-ID

Did you know that manta rays can be distinguished between individuals? Through photographic identification (photo-ID), individual manta rays can be recognised by the unique and unchanging natural spot patterns on their ventral surface, like a fingerprint. This non-invasive photo-ID methodology has been widely used to elucidate the population structure and biology of manta rays throughout their range. Here, Orgenes Ambafen, a highly skillful free diver, took a deep breath and submerged below a melanistic reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) to photograph the underside of this vulnerable species during a manta survey in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.