In this episode, Martina sits down with Savannah Maira, a core member of the Manta Ray Advocates team, to discuss her journey to her current role in ocean conservation. With a background in backstage theater and office administration, Savannah explains how her skills in organization, consistency, and long-term observation now contribute to manta ray conservation and enhance the guest experience. The conversation provides insight into how individual manta rays are tracked over time, how real sighting data informs candid discussions with guests, and how considerations such as safety, seasonality, and preparation guide responsible ocean encounters.

In this episode

Savannah’s path from theater and admin work to swim guiding with manta rays
How nightly manta sightings are tracked and documented over time
The story of Black Diamond’s fishing hook injury and its long-term resolution
What the 2025 sighting data reveals about familiar mantas and close encounters
Why manta ray sightings vary by season, and when tours are canceled for safety
How the box jellyfish calendar evolved into the Manta Rays of Kona calendar project
Sharing manta ray work and knowledge with the next generation

Key moments

(00:00) Introduction to Savannah and her role at Manta Ray Advocates

(00:37) Backstage theater and the path to Hawaii

(04:21) How a family connection led to an unexpected job opportunity

(07:04) Starting in admin and learning the business fast

(08:45) First manta swim and moving into guide briefings

(11:19) Swim guide training and lifeguard certification

(13:44) Commuting across the island for weekend guiding

(15:13) Tracking Black Diamond’s fishing hook injury over time

(22:06) Recording nightly manta sightings to answer guest questions

(23:41) 2025 sightings: familiar mantas and close encounters

(29:14) Seasonal manta sightings and tour cancellations

(34:46) The Manta Rays of Kona calendar project

(40:21) Raising a four-year-old manta ray enthusiast

Resources

• Episode page and resources: https://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/savannah-swim-guide
• Get Martina’s emails: https://oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter
• More about manta rays on https://mantarayadvocates.com
• Watch the full video on YouTube