Lefty the Manta Ray

Lefty the manta ray lives on the Kona coast of

the island of Hawaii. She has a broken left cephalic fin, so she’s easy to identify. She’s an adult female

Manta alfredi and measures approximately 12 feet

across.  She’s the first manta ray in the Manta Rays of

Kona, Hawaii catalog started in 1991 by dive guide

and manta researcher, Keller Laros.  

 

Manta Ray Identification

Laros catalogs all manta sightings using the spot pattern located on the ventral side between the gills.  Lefty is one of the most frequently sighted manta rays on the Kona coast and a crowd favorite!  Currently, there are over 200 individual manta rays identified on the Kona Coast since 1991.  This data is kept by Manta Pacific Research Foundation and can be accessed online in their identification catalog.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is a video by Keller Laros about manta identification and  70 popular rays on the Kona coast.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manta Pacific Research Foundation

 

By 2002, Keller and Wendy Laros had accumulated over a decade of manta sightings and spent several years teaching a manta ray course they authored through the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).  

 

They decided to extend their efforts and bring in scientists and others in the community and formed Manta Pacific Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  

 

The mission of this organization is to study manta rays in their natural habitat, conduct scientific research, provide education programs for the public about manta rays and the marine environment, and to establish and promote global manta ray conservation.  

 

Manta Pacific Research Foundation projects include the Manta Identification Project, Manta Tracking Project, Manta Measurement Project and Manta Rescue Project.  Manta Pacific has funded manta research both in Hawaii, Fiji, Indonesia and more.