disturb the sharks natural cleaning
rhythm. And divers should stay low
to the reef, kneeling in the sand to
keep a low profile. Floating in the
water column near the cleaning
station is a surefire way to drive off
the somewhat shy threshers.
Although shy, they can also be
curious and elusive. So occasionally
look overhead and even behind as
one might be swimming by.
Most cleaning stations are at 100
to 110 ft. (27 to 32m) and NITROX
is the best way to do an extended
dive. Thresher veterans say that
while early morning is the most
productive time to see them, they
also come later in the morning
when the light is much better with a
strong overhead sun. By the second
dive it may be less crowded and the
light will be better.
Oceanic mantas (Manta alfredi)
can also be seen at Monad Shoal
and the occasional whale shark.
Manta Point on Monad is the
favored place to try for the pelagic
mantas which are noticeably larger
than their location-oriented cousins,
the Manta alfonso. Nearby Kimud
Shoalalso has hit and miss sighting
of scalloped hammerhead schools.
The wall here also has some nice
large bushes of black corals with
hawkfish and lots of anthias in their
branches. Up top in the deco area
at 55 ft. (16m) is a rubbly bottom.
Along the dropoff look for
anemones and clownfish and wire
coral gobies. In the rubble there are
nudibranchs and there are signal
gobies in their hole homes.Thresher shark getting
cleaned at Monad Shoal