Rob: I have been very very lucky and gone diving to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang twice this week.

My first outing was impressive with great visibility, only a hand full of boats and some amazing underwater activity. Yes! the Manta Rays are back in force.

This year has been like it used to be with the Manta Rays usually seen around November, December and part of January. February and March you had to be very lucky to spot one then they normally arrive back the last few weeks of March, April and obviously May. 2008 / 2009 season how ever was an exception with them there all year round.

When we dropped in to Hin Muang I followed Gak the videographer straight to the Manta Rays cleaning station on top of the pinnacle at 8 meters. What an impressive show watching them drop off swim around and come back for more cleaning. We got to view 2 Manta’s together which was great! Back on the boat some other divers had witnessed a Whale Shark and we where all sharing our stories of wonder.

However things can only get better. I went Hin Daeng / Hin Muang a few days after and was totally blown away by the whole experience. When we where on the surface at Hin Muang I looked down and straight below us where 3 Manta Rays circling around. Mask on we descended and followed the reef along. Manta’s where coming in from everywhere. But the best surprise of all was a 5 meter long Whale Shark cruising in.

Now I am not the luckiest diver, but as we followed the Whale Shark we where very lucky to see a Manta cruise in behind flapping his wings and trying to push the Shark away from the reef. Wow! to see these 2 huge creatures together was an Amazing feeling. The reef which is huge was suddenly dwarfed and all the reef fish looked like tiny dots in comparison.

But it did not end there. As we continued along the reef I ascended up to the usual cleaning station and was even more impressed as I was joined by 6 Manta Rays circling around. I sat on top of the reef with them and was so close to the action it was a complete adrenalin buzz.

On the boat we decided to dive Hin Muang again. This time we followed the reef and all though we had the occasional Manta passing over head all eyes where out in the distance. After maybe 20 minutes all you could hear was Bang! Bang! Bang! As I turned there was a Whale Shark around 10 meters in length. Wow! is all I can say. As all the divers left the reef and went into the blue to follow the Shark. It then went deeper and came back shallowing up next to the group for another few minutes of pleasure.

It really was the best day of my life! and also well done for Mathilde and Regis who after completing their Open Water Course where lucky enough to enjoy the show.