Yap, Micronesia is one of the best places on the planet to photograph mandarinfish, which are best known for their sunset mating ritual: a coordinated flutter up into the water column culminating in a sudden release of sperm and eggs.

Last night, seven of us went out on the dusk dive here at Manta Ray Bay Resort in the hopes of seeing mandarinfish mating activity. Unfortunately, there was no mating to be seen, but dozens of mandarinfish presented us with ample opportunity to snap portraits. Neil Rosewarn nailed the shot of the night and returned to the resort with the perfect portrait of a perfect male mandarinfish on a black background.

I attempted to give an afternoon workshop on digital workflow, but Manta Fest guests were too busy diving to want to listen to me blather on about computer stuff. However, people did show up in numbers for my evening presentation on diving Alaska, which was especially entertaining because our guides, Gordon and Chomed, were there and had never seen photos of icebergs nor glaciers.

We continue to have good manta ray action at Goofnuw Channel, but are still waiting for conditions to be perfect: clear, incoming tide (and no wind), or an outgoing tide that triggers manta feeding action.

Other coverage:
- [Manta Fest 2008 Closing Words]
- [Manta Fest 2008 Day 7 Update]
- [Manta Fest 2008 Day 5 Update]
- [Manta Fest 2008 Day 3 Update]
- [Manta Fest 2008 Day 1 Update]