WOOOOW!!! +9!!

Manta rays!. Beautifull, gracefull creatures. I happen to really appreciate them myself, although i have only ever seen them in captivity. Nice to see them in their natural environment (unless this is also in a tank ). I think the dirt marks add an interesting aesthetic to the shot imho. I likes it =D.

Kalininskiy - Thank you~

Marley - I love Manta rays too These creatures are not meant to be in captivity, it just didn't look right. I mean, they are the ocean phantoms! However, this pic was taken in Maldives (along with 'Together'). My first time with underwater camera and three Mantas

composition's even better than on your first shot - all that little fish gathering around the huge one - to bad that lense was dirty. then it would have been perfect.
but it's not your fault, so 10/10

Stunning, I'll have to go with greyfin on her critique...This is pretty much near perfection.

greyfin - Thank you And yes, its too bad. I'm in the process of gathering money to buy the waterproof box so that I can take my own camera deep down ^.^ Hmmm hope I get it before this Dec.

Wysiwyg - Thank you ^.^

Wow! That a very nice underwater shot! I love how it's seems to be swooping down on you. The little fish across the bottom and all aroound add a very nice touch! I have a lot of respect for anyone who goes scuba diving too- I'm scared of deep water. Great job!

Berrycola121 - hehe, and it was actually swooping down on me . I was so lucky that day, cuz its quite unusual for manta rays to approach very close to human. And to tell you the truth, I'm a little claustophobic myself . Still shaken when I have to dive through caves and ship wreck...once my oxygen tank was caught in the hallway (in the shipwreck), I got lots of cuts all over and a big one in my hand - wasn't that pleasant memoir :S. But, its something

awesome.... awesome to the max! seriously though, great picture. only thing is that it looks a little gtitty -- dirt marks, as you mentioned -- but i love the perspective and the calming atmosphere. +3

Those giants are incredible!
I think underwater shots are not easy to take! Great capture!

like it alot

amorphous - I'm going to dive again (I hope!) this Dec. Hope to get more pics without the gitty marks hehe and Thank you.

Dax - Thank you~! I admire people who took underwater macro shots myself. How can they achieve such sharp and clear images with all those current and particles?!?!?!

Basil - Thank you

where is this photo taken?

Same place as in 'Together' and 'Burning Sensation' , in Maldives.

The dive spot was called 'Manta Point'......obvious isn't it ? I can't remember the local name though.

There's not much I could add to what people have already mentioned. Well done! The composition is perfect- part of which I think is owed to all those little fish zipping around. They carry the eye nicely around the picture. This is an awesome angle. I wouldn't have been able to take this shot had I been in your position- I'd be swimming away very quickly.

Everyone's already mentioned the dirt on the lense- not much you can do about that. There's also the title of this pic in the bottom corner- in my personal taste, I'd probably take that out and make your signature a little bigger. But like I said, that's personal taste.

Keep up the great work!

+8

Nice! Having never shot a picture underwater (except with one of those desposable "underwater" kodaks throw-a-ways) I can't imagine the exciment of actually taking a shot like this!

My only thing that I'd want to try tweaking in PS would be adjusting the levels a wee bit to bring down the shadows a bit darker - to add just a bit more contrast to the shot. (then again, that might bring up the lens-grit-gung thing going on?).

As CityRose sez : "personal taste" adjustments only required! Nice "wet work"!

Don't be too hard on yourself about a dirty lens or anything like that. First up, you are very fortunate to be able to swim with these very unique creatures. I've had the opportunity to swim with whales myself a few years ago, and it really gives you a reality check about where you lie as a person in the greater scheme of creation. As for the image itself, all I can say is thank you for giving us a glimpse of something that few of us have the chance of experiencing! [+6]

CityRose - Thank you!~ hehe....They just lauched an underwater photos competition here, I'm thinking of sending both 'Together' and 'Pelagic Pilgrim' in....wish me luck!

ReinMan - It was really one of those moments in life that you'll never forget

gridlock - Yes, it did remainder me of how 'small' i am compare to the whole creation

i like it very much, good work

It's beautiful. There's a sense of tranquility and movement looks effortless -- seeing that face to face must have been incredible. There's not much I can say that others haven't, but I really enjoy this piece.

Noine, just looking at this I feel emotions floating through me, I love scuba and free diving and it has been to long since my last trip to Thailand. This is very beautiful

Flowjoe