Black Manta Photography

28/01/2024

I almost went blind trying to find, and then photograph this tiny Pygmy Seahorse in the Philippines last year whilst diving with the magnificent Magic Oceans Dive Resort - no bigger than my fingernail, these beautiful little beasts are the master of disguise hiding in their giant fan coral home.
I swear - one minute you’ve spotted it, you blink and it’s gone from all sight..!
Stunning trip with the best group of friends!

Shot with


Panasonic UK Tourism Promotions Board Philippines Visit Philippines It's More Fun in the Philippines

22/01/2024

Anyone fancy it? A well worth while course!

Want to go Solo? We have two spaces available on our SDI Solo Course running this Sunday(28th January) Sign up today just drop us an email [email protected]

08/01/2024

Have you ever thought about diving on your own?
Have you ever found yourself short of a dive buddy?
Have you ever been diving and found yourself buddied with a diver that you wouldn't want to trust your life with?
Do you have a regular dive buddy who isn't as confident as you?

If you can answer 'yes' to any of the above 4 questions then fear not - I might just have the solution for you!

This is a full review of the SDI Solo Diver Course that I've recently completed with the brilliant team at Wraysbury Dive Centre.
I've broken it down and given you my own honest opinions as always, from the course fundamentals through to my thoughts, recommendations, and the reasons I chose the course in the first instance.

Please, if you have any thoughts, opinions or questions on any of this content then do add them in the video comments. I welcome all queries.

All views are my own, and I have not been directed or coerced to say anything contained in this video.
The cost of the course was covered in full by myself, and I have not been asked to, nor have I received any free equipment or training to create this video.

For more information on the SDI Solo Diver Course visit:
https://www.tdisdi.com/sdi/get-certified/Solo-Diver-Course/

For more information on Wraysbury Dive Centre Visit or contact the following:
Web - https://www.learntodive.co.uk/
Email - [email protected]
Phone - 01784 488007
YouTube -

To support this channel please consider subscribing to on YouTube.







SDI - Scuba Diving International
Scuba Diving International - Instructor

https://youtu.be/TO64AW3gAvQ?si=XdTcO2h4_ksXH5rx

Have you ever thought about diving on your own? Have you ever found yourself short of a dive buddy?Have you ever been diving and found yourself buddied with ...

31/12/2023

What a way to finish a fantastic year!!

Finished off the SDI Solo Diver Course today with the fantastic team at Wraysbury Dive Centre
Definitely the way forward - keep those eyes peeled for a little vlog about the course!

Happy New Year everyone where ever you are in the world. 🫶🏼🙌🏼

22/12/2023

Like a Phoenix from the ashes I rise!

Too dramatic?? Yeah, probably but it seemed like a great line to start with...
So yeah, I'm back!! Some of you might be wondering if I ever actually went anywhere to be back, and yes, to an extent you're right.
Took a bit of time away from YouTube to get on with normal life, but glad to say I'm back, rediscovered my mojo and raring to go!
Find it hard to believe that it's been over 2.5 years since my last vlog/kit review to you all, so lots of catching up to do!

So where have I been? Well, moved house a few times, had some great dive trips out to the Red Sea with the great team at Roots Red Sea, Egypt, and enjoyed an amazing group trip out to the Philippines with the brilliant teams at Magic Island Dive Resort and Magic Oceans Dive Resort.
So why now? Things in my personal life feel more settled than ever, and I've got the thirst back to vlog, and boy oh boy have I got some peachy things coming up for you!

I'll be kickstarting 2024 with a fresh review on the brand new Garmin Descent Mk3i and new T2 Transmitter - an unbelievable-looking piece of kit!
Also, (I hope you're sitting down) I'm going to be UK diving a lot more through 2024 in an actual Dry-Suit!! I know - hard to believe (if you know me that is!)
My love for warm, clear tropical water has earned me the lovely title of 'dive woose' but I'll be looking to turn that around.
I'll also be back to you guys really soon to talk to you about a new dive course I'm undertaking. Really excited about this.

As always - thank you for the continued support and messages - if you have any questions then drop them in the comments.

Wherever you are in the world, wishing you a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2024!

Please note - I have NOT been paid, endorsed, or received any free product to make this video.

Music sourced from https://www.epidemicsound.com

Huge thanks to:
Mike's Dive Store London - https://www.mikesdivestore.com/
Blue Ocean Diving - https://www.blueoceandiving.co.uk/
Wraysbury Dive Centre - https://www.wraysbury.ws/
Full Garmin Descent range - https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/search/?query=descent
For Descent Mk3 sales - https://www.mikesdivestore.com/collections/garmin-mk3-dive-computer-collection
https://youtu.be/2ntSR8e3RG4?si=zK-F8_GRJpJRyNNw

Like a Phoenix from the ashes I rise!Too dramatic?? Yeah, probably but it seemed like a great line to start with...So yeah, I'm back!! Some of you might be w...

12/09/2023

Great Barrier WOW indeed!!

If you haven’t seen it yet, head over to the latest edition of Dive Travel Adventures and check out the Australia article finally in print.
Pages 80-94.

https://issuu.com/scubaverse/docs/dta_8/80?ff&experiment=flat-plan

It’s actually from a trip in January 2020 - long before the pandemic was a ‘thing’..!
It’s been completely rewritten twice, but it’s great to see the photos in glorious print.
The trip was a liveaboard on the M/Y Spoilsport from the amazing team at Mike Ball Dive Expeditions - an utterly unbelievable experience.

There are also so great articles from lots of others including Sean Chinn and the lovely team at Frogfish Photography, so make sure you check it out…!!

Scubaverse Australia Tour Australia Australia Tourism Tourism Australia Australian Tourism Great Barrier Reef Great Barrier Reef Foundation Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Great Barrier Reef

27/06/2023

Great to see the March trip to the Philippines in print in this months Scuba Diver Magazine. Also available in the US and Australia print versions for friends overseas.

The article covers both the amazing Magic Island Dive Resort in Moalboal, Cebu, and the stunning Magic Oceans Dive Resort in Anda, Bohol.

A small but perfectly formed group of 10 headed out for some of the best diving we could find, and we even had a non diver in our midst, so check out what we got up to making sure everyone was occupied!

Massive thanks to all the staff at both resorts for an utterly unforgettable trip, amazing diving and delicious food!! We’ll definitely be back soon!!

It's More Fun in the Philippines Department of Tourism - Philippines Visit Philippines Pescador Island Moalboal Cebu Kawasan Falls Chocolate Hills Black Manta Photography Dive Worldwide

30/01/2023

Great to finally see this in print! Check it out on pages 28-42..!

29/01/2023

Back in December 2019 I was incredibly lucky to spend 2 glorious weeks across 4 hotels in Mexico on both Cozumel and the Yucatan Peninsula taking on some of the absolute best diving Mexico had to offer!

Great to finally see the article and photos in print after some difficult years through the pandemic - how different life is now.

Massive thanks to the teams at Scubaverse, Dive Travel Adventures, Pro Dive Mexico Scuba Academy, Pro Dive International PADI 5 Star Dive Centers and the Barceló Hotels & Resorts Hotel Barcelo Rivera Maya for making it all happen.

To see everything from the stunning reef dives of Cozumel, the beautiful Cenote dives and the thrill of diving with Bull Sharks, check out pages 28-42 in the link below.
Lots of other great content too from other collaborators.

This article is dedicated to the memory of Erich Ritter SharkSchool. A great man who I was fortunate enough to spend some time with on this trip before his untimely passing in Aug 2020.

Enjoy!!

Mexico Tourism Office VisitMexico Isla Cozumel Allegro Cozumel Royal Hideaway Playacar Allegro Playacar Occidental Cozumel

Join us on some of the most spectacular and exciting Dive Travel Adventures worldwide in the Winter 2023 (Issue 7) of the premium quarterly magazine from the Scubaverse Team! Packed full of incredible photography and first person travel experiences, Dive Travel Adventures will inspire you to put on....

02/11/2022

Listen for yourself about what Deptherapy really does!

Meet Lloyd and Stuart - two Veterans' who are part of the Deptherapy programme, who give their own candid story of how Deptherapy came into their lives and has helped them.
Deptherapy isn't just a charity - it's a family, and really does make a difference in saving people's lives.

Deptherapy & Deptherapy Education. Making the IMpossible POSSIBLE.

The Summer 2022 Expedition was supported and funded by the Veterans' Foundation and the Armed Forces Covenant Fund.

If any of the matters raised in the video have resonated, then please reach out. Reach out to anyone, but please make sure you talk to someone.

For further info on the following, please visit the following links.
Deptherapy & Deptherapy Education - https://deptherapy.co.uk/
Veterans' Foundation - https://www.veteransfoundation.org.uk/
Op Courage - https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/mental-health/veterans-reservists/

A special thanks to those that made the video possible.
Dive RAID UK - https://www.diveraiduk.com/gb/
Divecrew - https://www.divecrew.co.uk/
Roots Red Sea, Egypt - https://www.rootsredsea.com/
M/Y Big Blue - https://mybigblue.com/

All filming, editing & production by Black Manta Photography.
For collaboration, or licensing contact [email protected]

Music by: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

For more content subscribe at https://www.youtube.com/blackmantaphotography

08/04/2022

Been a while since I posted anything - hope everyone out there is keeping safe and well.

If you missed it, there was a lovely article in this months Scuba Diver Magazine on pages 44-49.
Link to the mag is here:

https://issuu.com/scubadivermag/docs/uk_59

This was a week on board the amazing Big Blue liveaboard owned by the guys at Roots Red Sea, Egypt and Pharoah Dive Club.
Nice to see something in print again after such a long time, and great to share the article with Richard Cullen from Deptherapy & Deptherapy Education

29/12/2021

Great White Sharks of Guadalupe - I could literally produce hundreds of reels of this shark footage from the 2019 trip on the Socorro Vortex Liveaboard and never get bored!! Maybe it’s time to start planning a return!

Who fancies it???? 🙋🏽‍♂️



Scuba Diver Magazine Isla Guadalupe Pelagic Safari • Member of the Pelagic Fleet

27/12/2021

Roots Red Sea, Egypt - my most favourite place to dive in Egypt. I guess you could call it my second home seeing as I’ve been there 9 times over the last few years. Why? Well simply it’s the rustic charm, fantastic staff, incredible house reef for the best diving, and the traditional Sunday roast with apple crumble and custard!! 😋
How many sleeps until I go back?? 🤔

23/12/2021

Can’t decide if I prefer this shoal of feeding mackerel in colour or black & white?
Let me know what you prefer!? 👇🏼

📍Roots Red Sea, Egypt house reef

21/12/2021

Couldn’t help but grab a quick shot of this lone fisherman standing on the edge of the reef with his single fishing line - nothing commercial, just a guy fishing to feed his family dinner that day.
The epitome of a simple life - but is he happy? Damn right he is!

📍House Reef | Roots Red Sea, Egypt

15/11/2021

Just look at Roots Red Sea, Egypt glistening against that starry starry sky!! 🌟🌟

I had the most amazing stay there recently. Can’t wait to get back!!
Who fancies it?? ☝🏼

02/11/2021

What a really positive piece of news!!

Let’s hope this can be sensibly policed with appropriate levels of punishment in place for those caught crossing the line (literally)..!

31/10/2021

Yep - I know, it’s been waaaay too long since I posted anything on this page.
I think it’s fair to say that this year has been mostly written off and deleted - however I did manage to get out to Roots Red Sea, Egypt a week or so ago for a very much needed break, and some top class diving.
I took a bucket load of dive computers with me including the Shearwater Research Teric and the Garmin Descent Mk2i for the long awaited comparison review - AND also took a new Paralenz Vaquita on the trip to test against my own Panasonic GH5 and also the DJI OSMO Action camera.

Keep those eyes peeled for these videos dropping in the next few weeks - lots and lots to share with you! 🙌🏼

https://youtu.be/xbt0ExF3TzM

So, it's pretty fair to say that 2021 really hasn't gone to plan for anyone...I had so many aspirations of getting on top of reviews this year, and getting i...

30/08/2021

Happy International Whale Shark Day! 🐳🦈
Remembering this little treat from Feb 2019 while diving with the team at Magic Island Dive Resort

19/05/2021

The world waits almost 18 months for the jaw-dropping Garmin Descent MK2 to arrive, and before you know it - just a mere 7 months later we find ourselves with another Descent model tempting our wallets!

Introducing the Garmin Descent MK2S - launches today, 19th May 2021.

But what is this mystical creature all about??
What does the 'S' mean??
What are these new colour options??
Only one way to find out....

https://youtu.be/5lDsHiTzaPo

For sales of all of the Garmin Descent range, including new bundle deals on the Garmin Descent MK2i with T1 Tank Pod AND Titanium strap, head over to Mike's Dive Store London or check out the following link:

https://www.mikesdivestore.com/collections/garmin-diving-equipment

Garmin Garmin Fitness Garmin Outdoor

The world can be a funny place at times... You wait eagerly for the Garmin Descent Mk2 to arrive - almost 18 months in fact, and then before you know it ther...

16/05/2021

The only way to fish! No nets, no line - just you and a pointy stick (and a long breath hold!)

Diving with Alami Alor Dive Resort - Alor, Indonesia.

27/12/2016

Another shot of the big velvet barrel anemones with a shy little Anemone fish peaking over the top! | Grand Baie Aquarium, Mauritius

11/12/2016

Magic in Mauritius with Dodo Divers

We recently had the pleasure of diving with the team at Dodo Divers in Mauritius.
There isn't enough we can say to emphasis just how impressed we were with their hospitality, service, and local knowledge of the dive sites.
Some of the best diving we have ever had the fortune of being part of - and 100% know we will return!
Huge thanks to Rose, Anthony, Nadeem, Pascal, Chang, Manisha and the rest of the crew for a week we will never forget!

Take a few minutes to read the review and see some of our favourite photos from the trip.

https://blackmantaphotography.com/2016/12/11/magic-in-mauritius-with-dodo-divers/

Our first dive trip to Mauritius happened by chance when a couple of our good friends decided to get married, and invited us to join them there for their wedding. We had heard from others that the …

11/12/2016

In amongst all the vivid purple and red Anemones we found this stunning, and very unusual white anemone with stunning black anemone fish making it their home. Anyone seen this before? If so where?? | Anemone Garden, Mauritius Dodo Divers

07/12/2016

Beautiful Black Anemone Fish -This site is full of these stunning barrel like Anemones that look as though they are made from the finest velvet | Grand Baie Aquarium, Mauritius. With Dodo Divers