The name of this manta ray is “Kamala” after the current US Vice President Kamala Harris.
We want to acknowledge and honor many things about her but most importantly being a trailblazer for women around the globe. She is breaking the ceiling as the first female vice president and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, as well as the first African American and first Asian American vice president.
It’s a big deal.
Martina, who first identified her, was born in Germany and is now a US Citizen, is used to having a woman lead a powerful country and is thrilled to see this in the USA.
You might wonder why we would bring politics into this? It is simple: Martina is a passionate activist, environmentalist, and animal lover her whole life, and has been gravely concerned by the ongoing threats that our planet is facing. In particular, how the narrative is being shaped by those who have the loudest and most organized messaging, not for the betterment of the world, but for its destruction.
While Martina inherently believes in the good of people, she is constantly trying to find a way to be a voice for the voiceless. This is reflected in our company’s simple motto of “DO NO HARM”. Only the right policies will bring real change and those are created by politicians. For too long, we have not paid attention to that process, and believe this has happened to many. For too long, we’ve been told to shy away from speaking up for what is wrong, but this has only led to these tumultuous times.
If you are upset about the name: good, we’ve got your attention. If you like the name and what it stands for: even better.
Never lose sight of where humanity must direct itself so future generations have a chance to see and encounter the wonders of nature, especially the beautiful and gentle manta rays. We encourage everyone reading this to pay attention to politics and to speak up if you see and hear injustice.
We met Kamala during a night snorkel in March 2023. We were blown away by our beauty, grace and fluid motion. Spending half an hour in the water with her was a moving experience that I hope as many people as possible can enjoy. We hope to meet her again someday!
I had the joy of swimming with Kamala Ray on April 16, 2023. She is such a cutie! In her search for plankton during a night snorkel tour sponsored by Manta Ray Advocates she brushed my belly several times as she did her circular diving routine. The entire experience is unforgettable! To me … she looked much larger than the published wingspan…perhaps as a result of the excitement of the moment;-)
My family and I met Kamala on April 4. I hadn’t known what to expect, and seeing her cruising into view made me shriek a bit underwater. We were actually going to get to spend time with a manta ray! I could have spent hours watching her do loop-de-loops as she ate. I didn’t get bumped at all, which seemed crazy at the time, but I saw afterward on the videos that she’d gotten even closer than I thought. I’m glad that she decided to cruise our way!
I met Kamala for the first time in February 2023. During the briefing the Manta Ray Advocates team said smiling would cause water to leak into the mask. I didn’t think much of it. When I saw Kamala, I couldn’t stop giggling, and my mask kept on flooding, because I was so joyful. At some point, to my surprise, her cephalic fin brushed against my chest, and I shouted through my snorkel, “I love you!”
I’ve been fortunate to swim with her on other nights ever since that intimate first encounter. Each time I thank her for bringing out that childlike joy out of me.