This young manta ray is slowly becoming a local legend around the Lady Musgrave Lagoon. Frequently passing by the pontoon she’s named after @ladymusgrave_hq_pontoon “HQ” is thought to maybe have been born nearby. We’re excited to track her growth progress and to see if she hangs around and calls this area home! Usually seen first thing in the morning cruising by to wave her wings and say hello 😍
These mantas are born with a wingspan of around 1.5 metres, looking like miniature adults. Super cute 😁
We will definitely be monitoring her progress as long as she hangs around the area 🤗
@masterreefguides@ladymusgrave_experience@queensland@visitbundaberg@projectmanta@gbrmarinepark
#greatbarrierreef #manta #diving #fish #ocean
And that’s a wrap! 🦈🇱🇰🦈
What an incredible week talking all things shark (and ray!) science at @sharks.international in Colombo!
We shared #ProjectManta research through both oral and poster presentations, formed new collaborations, and reunited with old friends! 🎤🤝🎓🫶
Massive congrats to the organisers from @blueresources who put on an incredible conference! Now it’s time for a rest, and we will be excited to do it all again in 4 years time in #KotaKinabalu 🙌🩵🦈
With the help of @projectmanta I would like to introduce the elegant and majestic Petal!! (#743)
We had the luck of diving next to her as she visited multiple cleaning stations so she could look good for a potential mate 😉 It is thought that they visit the southern Great Barrier Reef from the months of May to August for a period of gestation, how exciting!
If you’d like a chance to meet Petal yourself come visit @ladymusgrave_experience for our manta snorkel safari’s!!
@queensland@gbrmarinepark@masterreefguides
#greatbarrierreef #manta #ocean #wildlife
April is Global Citizen Science Month 🌱📝💙📸🌏
To celebrate, you can tune into a recent episode from the Citizen Science Show that features #ProjectManta 🦈
Learn all about the role #Citizenscience plays in our research, and how you can get involved!
/episode/4W2iRSVgVpI2cAPtzJqrkF?si=3exU0NTbQd-cAk0kwXhJGw
The manta madness that was the 2026 @mantalodge girl's weekend 🤯
Over three days of diving, more than 30 different individuals were identified through the group and @projectmanta
It is definitely the craziest dives I've had at manta bommie over the years. Incredible conditions and literally manta rays everywhere.
The ocean really turned it on for the special weekend that it was 💕
#mantalodge #mantarays #projectmanta #scubadiving
#ProjectManta is very excited to be presenting at Sharks International 2026 in Sri Lanka next month! 🦈🦈🦈
This conference is only held every 4 years, and brings shark, ray, and chimaera researchers together from all around the world! 🌏
#ProjectManta is presenting multiple times - with talks on satellite tracking of manta rays and manta ray reproduction, as well as a poster celebrating the accomplishments from our long-term #CitizenScience program (thank YOU all for your contributions!)
Stay tuned to hear more from the conference! #SI2026
Meet “Taylah” 🦈✨💦 A beautiful female manta ray that was first sighted in June 2025 at #LadyElliotIsland
Taylah is named in honour of the one and only @taystravels___ from @mantalodge - a complete QUEEN of the ocean, an amazing supporter of #ProjectManta AND an incredible asset for the dive industry!
While, the manta season may be starting to wind down at the southern aggregation sites, there are still a few around, so make sure to submit your belly shots for identification! 🫶🏼📸🙌🏼
How many times can you see a Manta in 2days…
Not even the full amount but wow what a 2 days of diving that was @mantalodge for Girls Weekend 🫶
No wonder @projectmanta got over run with Manta Ray belly shots from this weekend 🙌🏽🙌🏽
#mantarays #goproanz #ocean
Have you ever surfaced after a snorkel or dive and wanted to know what the weird and wonderful fish or sea snake or ray was that you just saw?!?! 🙋🧐
Well look no further! The #LeaftoReef field guide has you covered! 📚✅ With 800 species catalogued from the southern Great Barrier Reef and beautiful full colour photos to accompany each species description 🐟 🦅 🐢 🦈
PLUS expert informed Creature Features (including one on Reef Manta Rays!), species range updates, and research highlights! This 288-page field guide is a must for anyone heading to the reef 🪸✨💦
Pre-orders are available now: .au/product/a-field-guide-to-the-vertebrates-of-lady-elliot-island-great-barrier-reef/
🌊 FINAL 2 WEEKS 🌊
The countdown is on! There are just two weeks left to pre-order A Field Guide to the Vertebrates of Lady Elliot Island, Great Barrier Reef 📘🐢
This book is the result of over six years of research and collaboration, capturing the incredible biodiversity of Lady Elliot Island and the southern Great Barrier Reef — with 800+ species, stunning photography, and contributions from scientists and citizen scientists alike.
🙏 I’d really appreciate your support in these final weeks:
• Share this post to your stories or with friends
• Tag someone who loves the ocean
• Pre-order your copy if you haven’t yet
Pre-orders are essential for funding additional printing, so every share and order truly helps make this happen 💙
💬 “Likely the most comprehensive and up to date guide for the southern Great Barrier Reef, particularly for the fishes” – Christine Dudgeon
🔗 Pre-order via the link in bio
Thank you so much for your support — it means the world! 🌿🐠
#GreatBarrierReef #LadyElliotIsland #MarineLife #OceanLovers #ReefLife Conservation CitizenScience WildlifePhotography BookPresale SupportScience OceanConservation
An ocean ghost, lighting the dark.
A rare sight to see and swim beside such a beautiful Grey Manta Ray at Nguthungulli yesterday. Its presence and beauty captured my soul.
#manta #mantaray #diving #ocean #oceanlife
