Search for the Rays: Part IV

That night. Still indescribable but I'll try.
I get back on to the boat, my pulse slowing, but not much. I throw off my snorkel and mask and exclaim, "that was literally the coolest thing I have ever seen!" The veteran divers who were with us didn't seem too impressed, they must have seen it all before. Still, I couldn't believe my eyes, continuously slapping myself to make sure that what had just happened was real.
It was, a one ton under water bird was less than three feet away from me, mouth agape and all*.
It is only about five thirty when I got out and we aren't going back in until nighttime, I go to my favorite spot, on top of the boat. I sit there, eating my Macadamia nut cookie (provided by the crew) and drinking a cup of water, letting it seep around my mouth stinging my chapped lips.
Eventually, I let the gentle rocking of the boat lull me to sleep. I woke abruptly, my brother huddled over me telling me we have to be town in the cabin area to be briefed on our next dive: The manta night dive.
Now while I was sleeping, a bunch of dive boats from the same small boat harbor we came from anchored in our cove. By now, in this little cove, there were probably 200 people, all diving/snorkeling the same spot.
I had a quick conversation with my mom and the result is me saying, "how lame is that."
It seemed like it was lame, little did I know that the more people there were the better. See we were all taking flashlights into the water so that we can actually see while night diving/snorkeling, but what I didn't know was that the lights also attract plankton, which attract manta rays, what I'm there to see.
Mike basically tells us not to touch the mantas and we all say we won't, in that monotone voice, the kind kindergartners when they are not listening.
Finally he tells us we are allowed to go in but the only rule when we were down there was that we must always leave the flashlight on to make it easier to find in case you dropped it into the pitch black abyss that was below us.
I get my wetsuit on, easily, then getting my boots on were a little harder. I got my mask on, tightened it, got my flippers on, tightened them, and I was good to go.
I pull the flashlight lanyard around my wrist as tight as it can be, step onto the back of the boat, and make the plunge.

*It should be noted that Manta Rays cannot eat anything bigger than plankton, they are filter feeders, nonetheless, it's surprising to see it coming at you.