{"id":45952,"date":"2021-09-11T17:08:14","date_gmt":"2021-09-11T17:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sanchatrindade.com\/published\/?p=45952"},"modified":"2026-08-27T19:09:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T19:09:00","slug":"jamantas-ha-vida-eterea-nas-aguas-de-santa-maria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sanchatrindade.com\/published\/jamantas-ha-vida-eterea-nas-aguas-de-santa-maria\/","title":{"rendered":"Jamantas, h\u00e1 vida et\u00e9rea nas \u00e1guas de Santa Maria"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Este artigo foi tamb\u00e9m publicado no P\u00fa<\/a>blico.<\/p>\n

This article was also published in\u00a0P\u00fablico<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Muitos sa\u0303o os que atravessam o planeta para nadarem com as jamantas da Baixa do Ambro\u0301sio, na ilha de Santa Maria. Conhecidas por se agregarem em grande quantidade nos Ac\u0327ores, ja\u0301 se tornaram estrelas maiores da ilha do Sol. Aqui, pode testemunhar-se um dos postais aqua\u0301ticos mais fee\u0301ricos do mundo.<\/p>\n

Many people travel across the globe to swim with the manta rays at Baixa do Ambr\u00f3sio, on the island of Santa Maria. Known for gathering in large numbers in the Azores, they have become the island of the Sun\u2019s greatest stars. Here, you can witness one of the most ethereal underwater spectacles in the world.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Como e\u0301 mergulhar com jamantas? E\u0301 \u201ccoisa do divino e das melhores experie\u0302ncias que levamos desta terra dos vivos\u201d, ouvimos dizer ainda antes de vivermos esta experie\u0302ncia u\u0301nica, desejada por tantos mas que poucos conseguem realizar. Se du\u0301vi- das existirem, imagine-se a esvoac\u0327ar no profundo azul ac\u0327oriano com 50 jamantas ao mesmo tempo. O que pode parecer um sonho li\u0301quido de uma imaginac\u0327a\u0303o vasta e\u0301 uma concretizac\u0327a\u0303o real para todos os mergulhadores que tenham a certificac\u0327a\u0303o Open Water.<\/p>\n

What is it like to dive with manta rays? It is \u201csomething divine, and one of the best experiences we take with us from this earth\u201d, we were told before experiencing this unique encounter \u2014 one so many dream of, yet so few get to live. If you have any doubts, imagine yourself gliding through the deep blue waters of the Azores, surrounded by 50 manta rays at once. What may sound like a liquid dream born of a vivid imagination is, in fact, a real experience for any diver holding an Open Water certification.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Mas comecemos pelo ini\u0301cio, onde nasce a promessa do postal idi\u0301lico. A cada ano, sa\u0303o muitos o que aterram em Santa Maria para, a partir da mari- na da Vila do Porto, iniciarem uma das experie\u0302ncias mais fascinantes que provavelmente va\u0303o viver na vida.<\/p>\n

Santa Maria e\u0301 a ilha mais meridional do arquipe\u0301lago ac\u0327oriano, a que mais horas de Sol oferece por ano. A be\u0302nc\u0327a\u0303o deve-se a\u0300 proximidade da ribeira do Golfo e ao seu perfil, que porsermaisbaixo, torna-anau\u0301nica ilha do arquipe\u0301lago com menos humi- dade e por isso, com um clima mais parecido com o mediterra\u0302nico. A tambe\u0301m apelidada de ilha amarela foi a primeira ilha ac\u0327oriana a formar-se, ha\u0301 mais de oito milho\u0303es de anos, como tambe\u0301m a primeira a ser des- coberta e povoada nos Ac\u0327ores. Com pouco menos de seis mil habitantes, e apenas a oitenta quilo\u0301metros de Sa\u0303o Miguel, e\u0301 da sua capital, a Vila do Porto, que nos meses mais quentes do ano partem barcos a\u0300 descoberta do famoso sala\u0303o de baile da ilha.<\/p>\n

But let us start at the beginning, where the promise of an idyllic postcard takes shape. Every year, many travellers land on Santa Maria to set off from the marina of Vila do Porto on what will probably be one of the most fascinating experiences of their lives.<\/em><\/p>\n

Santa Maria is the southernmost island of the Azores, and the one blessed with the most hours of sunshine each year. This gift is due to its proximity to the Gulf Stream and its profile, which, being lower in altitude, makes it the only island in the archipelago with less humidity and, consequently, a climate more akin to the Mediterranean. Also known as the Yellow Island, Santa Maria was the first of the Azores to emerge, more than eight million years ago, as well as the first to be discovered and settled in the archipelago.<\/em><\/p>\n

With just under 6,000 inhabitants and only 80 kilometres from S\u00e3o Miguel, it is from its capital, Vila do Porto, that boats set out during the warmer months in search of the island\u2019s famous underwater ballroom.<\/em><\/p>\n

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O facto de estar entre dois continentes faz das a\u0301guas de Santa Maria um ponto crucial para muitas espe\u0301cies que todos os anos incorrem em migrac\u0327o\u0303es atla\u0302nticas e na Baixa do Ambro\u0301sio. jamantas esvoac\u0327antes encontram condic\u0327o\u0303es perfeitas para acasalarem, alimentarem-se e cresce- rem e deslumbrarem os mergulhado- res que visitam esta ilha.<\/p>\n

A presenc\u0327a destes ma\u0301gicos animais em todo o arquipe\u0301lago teve o seu primeiro registo no se\u0301culo XVIII, mas so\u0301 em 2013, atrave\u0301s da recolha de fotos de cidada\u0303os cientistas, foi possi\u0301vel confirmar, pela primeira vez, que ocorrem tre\u0302s espe\u0301cies diferentes de Mobuli\u0301deos nos Ac\u0327ores:a Jamanta Chilena (Mobula Tarapacana), a Manta Ocea\u0302nica (Mobula Birostris) e aJamantaGigante (Mobula Mobular), sendo estas duas avistadas em menor quantidade.<\/p>\n

\u201cDanc\u0327ar com Mobulas\u201d. E\u0301 assim que a Wahoo Diving, a empresa de mergulho com sede em Vila do Porto, conquista quem a escolhe para experienciar este mergulho. A experie\u0302ncia de \u201cdanc\u0327ar com jamantas\u201d arrebata, sem du\u0301vida, qualquer mergulhador apaixonado pela vida ocea\u0302nica. Mas o facto de se diferenciar na eficie\u0302nciade uma reserva online e\u0301 tambe\u0301m atractivo para todos os mergulhadores de garrafa. Simplesmente porque escolher uma empresa a quem confiamos a segu- ranc\u0327a da experie\u0302ncia pode originar algumas borboletas na barriga. Diria que o entusiasmo parecido com o de uma crianc\u0327a em espera numa manha\u0303 de Natal mistura-se a\u0300 sensac\u0327a\u0303o de receio, porque na\u0303o e\u0301 uma actividade, por norma, experiencia- da nos meses de Inverno. Sem treino e sem viagens a caminho de dois anos de covid 19, o impacto da pri- meira impressa\u0303o e\u0301 por isso fulcral sempre que se contacta uma empresa de mergulho, ja\u0301 que e\u0301 sempre um desafio confiar no operador que des- conhecemos.<\/p>\n

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A Wahoo Diving e\u0301 orquestrada por Steffen Errath, nascido ha\u0301 38 anos, em Friburgo, na Brisgo\u0301via alema\u0303. O experiente mergulhador alema\u0303o escolheu Santa Maria como sua morada permanente de Marc\u0327o a Novembro, e e\u0301 ai\u0301 que todos os anos guia, com grande paixa\u0303o e responsabilidade, os amantes dos mergulhos com jamantas. No seu portugue\u0302s em constante construc\u0327a\u0303o sublinha logo que e\u0301 \u201co primeiro centro de mergulho que se estabeleceu em Santa Maria\u201d: \u201cA nossa experie\u0302ncia de mergulho posiciona-se bem longe de um turismo de massas\u201d, garante. Facto que pude comprovar quando, a caminho da Baixa do Ambro\u0301sio, comparei a quantidade de mergulhado- res dos diferentes barcos. O Ambro\u0301sio tem regras especi\u0301ficas e a cada empresa e\u0301 dada um \u201cslot\u201d de tempo dia\u0301rio de uma hora e meia, onde pode ir apenas um barco de cada vez e com o ma\u0301ximo de dez pessoas.<\/p>\n

A Wahoo Diving leva apenas oito mergulhadores de cada vez, para dar a garantia de que todos conseguem ver bem as jamantas. O que pode acontecer porque se na\u0303o for um mergulhador experiente na\u0303o pode abandonar o cabo que assegura a descida. E na\u0303o, na\u0303o se queira imaginar pendu- rado no cabo do mergulho, com mui- tos mergulhadores por baixo, que lhe tirara\u0303o toda a visibilidade com as bolhas de respirac\u0327a\u0303o.<\/p>\n

Steffen comec\u0327ou a mergulhar aos 14 anos em lagos alema\u0303es e, com lar- ga experie\u0302ncia nos va\u0301rios oceanos do mundo, comprou a empresa pioneira ao antigo fundador e no final de 2014 investiu, comprando mais um barco (ha\u0301 outros mergulhos a descobrir ale\u0301m do da Baixa do Ambro\u0301sio) e, formando uma equipa, tem hoje ao servic\u0327o dez guias experientes para scuba dive e free dive, usando os termos em ingle\u0302s, a li\u0301ngua utilizada na experie\u0302ncia da Wahoo.<\/p>\n

Being situated between two continents makes the waters around Santa Maria a crucial waypoint for many species that undertake Atlantic migrations each year. At Baixa do Ambr\u00f3sio, gliding manta rays find the perfect conditions to mate, feed and grow \u2014 and to mesmerise the divers who come to this island.<\/em><\/p>\n

The presence of these magical animals throughout the archipelago was first recorded in the 18th century. However, it was only in 2013, through the collection of photographs by citizen scientists, that it was possible to confirm, for the first time, the presence of three different species of mobulids in the Azores: the Chilean Devil Ray (Mobula tarapacana), the Oceanic Manta Ray (Mobula birostris) and the Giant Devil Ray (Mobula mobular), the latter two being sighted in smaller numbers.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDancing with Mobulas.\u201d This is how Wahoo Diving, the dive centre based in Vila do Porto, wins over those who choose it for this extraordinary experience. The experience of \u201cdancing with manta rays\u201d undoubtedly captivates any diver passionate about ocean life. But its efficient online booking system is equally appealing to all scuba divers. Simply because choosing a company we trust to ensure the safety of the experience can give rise to a few butterflies in the stomach.<\/em><\/p>\n

I would say that the excitement of a child waiting for Christmas morning is mixed with a sense of apprehension, because this is not, as a rule, an activity experienced during the winter months. After almost two years without training and travelling due to Covid-19, the impact of that first impression is therefore crucial whenever one approaches a diving company. It is always a challenge to place your trust in an operator you do not know.<\/em><\/p>\n

Wahoo Diving is led by Steffen Errath, born 38 years ago in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. The experienced German diver makes Santa Maria his permanent home from March to November, and it is here that, every year, he guides lovers of manta-ray diving with great passion and responsibility.<\/em><\/p>\n

In his ever-improving Portuguese, he is quick to point out that Wahoo is \u201cthe first dive centre to establish itself on Santa Maria\u201d: \u201cOur diving experience is positioned far away from mass tourism,\u201d he assures me. A fact I was able to confirm when, on our way to Baixa do Ambr\u00f3sio, I compared the number of divers aboard the different boats.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ambr\u00f3sio has specific rules, with each company allocated a daily one-and-a-half-hour slot, during which only one boat may visit at a time, with a maximum of ten people on board.<\/em><\/p>\n

Wahoo Diving takes only eight divers at a time, ensuring that everyone has a good view of the manta rays. This matters because less experienced divers are not allowed to leave the line that secures the descent. And no, you do not want to imagine yourself hanging from the dive line, with a crowd of divers below you whose streams of bubbles will block your entire view.<\/em><\/p>\n

Steffen began diving at the age of 14 in German lakes and, after gaining extensive experience across the world\u2019s oceans, bought the pioneering company from its former founder. At the end of 2014, he invested in another boat \u2014 there are other dives to discover beyond Baixa do Ambr\u00f3sio \u2014 and, after building a team, now has ten experienced guides for scuba diving and freediving, to use the English terms adopted by Wahoo for the experience.<\/em><\/p>\n

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A morada e\u0301 magistral e, nas palavras de Steffen, \u201ca pouco mais de meia hora de barco do porto de Santa Maria esta\u0301 agregado num dos dois u\u0301nicos lugares do mundo [o outro e\u0301 o Princesa Alice mais perto das ilhas do Faial e Pico] um grupo de jamantas chilenas, que se concentram ali todos os anos, entre Junho e Outubro.\u201d E\u0301 por ser ta\u0303o perto da costa que a Baixa do Ambro\u0301sio e\u0301 considerada ta\u0303o especial, o que ja\u0301 na\u0303o acontece no Princesa Alice.<\/p>\n

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\u201cA regra de ouro e\u0301 na\u0303o perturbar os animais\u201d acrescenta Steffen, deixando bem claro nas indicac\u0327o\u0303es que antecedem o mergulho que, se tocar- mos nas jamantas, na\u0303o so\u0301 regressa- mos ao barco imediatamente como na\u0303o mergulhamos mais com a Wahoo Diving. Regras firmes, bem aclamadas por quem ama e respeita as maravilhas dos oceanos – por duas vezes vi Steffen a desviar-se da sua rota para apanhar pla\u0301stico flutuante – e que fazem desta empresa, tam- be\u0301m por isso, uma das mais pontua- das e recomendadas virtualmente.<\/p>\n

Partir para um mergulho e\u0301 sempre entusiasmante porque nunca e\u0301 garantida a quantidade de animais que podera\u0303o ser avistados. Num mau dia podemos ver apenas uma, duas jamantas, ou raramente nenhuma, mas um verdadeiro avistar 50 todas juntas. Por isso, a recomendac\u0327a\u0303o e\u0301 que, quando agen- dar a sua viagem de mergulho, fac\u0327a pelo menos seis mergulhos em tre\u0302s dias diferentes (sa\u0303o sempre dois ou tre\u0302s por dia) e guarde mais uns dias, na\u0303o va\u0301 o clima ac\u0327oriano reservar alguma surpresa e os barcos na\u0303o conseguirem sair do porto.<\/p>\n

The setting is truly spectacular and, in Steffen\u2019s words, \u201cjust over half an hour by boat from the port of Santa Maria, there is one of only two places in the world [the other being Princess Alice, closer to the islands of Faial and Pico] where a group of Chilean Devil Rays gathers every year, between June and October.\u201d It is precisely because Baixa do Ambr\u00f3sio lies so close to the coast that it is considered so special \u2014 something that cannot be said of Princess Alice.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe golden rule is not to disturb the animals,\u201d adds Steffen, making it very clear in the briefing before the dive that, should we touch the manta rays, we must return to the boat immediately and will not be allowed to dive with Wahoo Diving again. Firm rules, warmly welcomed by those who love and respect the wonders of the ocean \u2014 I saw Steffen divert from his course twice to collect floating plastic \u2014 and which also make the company one of the most highly rated and recommended online.<\/em><\/p>\n

Setting off on a dive is always exciting, because there is never any guarantee of how many animals we might encounter. On a bad day, we may see just one or two manta rays, or, more rarely, none at all. But on a truly exceptional day, we might see 50 gathered together. That is why the recommendation, when planning your diving trip, is to book at least six dives over three different days (there are always two or three dives per day) and to allow a few extra days, in case the Azorean weather has a surprise in store and the boats are unable to leave the harbour.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Acordamos na Vigia da Areia, numa das moradas mais deslumbrantes da ilha, na Bai\u0301a de Sa\u0303o Lourenc\u0327o, e o encontro acontece a vinte minutos de carro, na marina de Vila do Porto. Cada mergulhador monta o seu equipamento (sempre com vistoria da equipa da Wahoo) e par- timos para uma viagem de 35 minu- tos ao longo da costa. Todos equipa- dos e prontos a po\u0302r o bocal que nos ligara\u0301 a\u0300 pulsac\u0327a\u0303o da vida. E a realizar um dos sonhos de muitos mergulha- dores (e meu), o mergulho com as jamantas.<\/p>\n

Somos seis mergulhadores de diferentes nacionalidades no barco, sen- do eu a u\u0301nica portuguesa a bordo. Sentados no semi ri\u0301gido frente a frente em nu\u0301meros pares, vamos saindo um a um, mergulhando de costas, rodando o dorso em direc\u0327a\u0303o ao mar. Porque nesta pra\u0301tica desportiva aqua\u0301tica e\u0301 sempre preciso mergulhar em dupla, o meu buddy de seguranc\u0327a e\u0301 o Steffen. Os deuses da\u0303o tudo quando os mergulhos sa\u0303o feitos sem cor- rente, o que permite aos guias e mergulhadores mais experientes afastarem-se um pouco do cabo da embarcac\u0327a\u0303o. Usado na\u0303o apenas para descermos, serve tambe\u0301m como refere\u0302ncia visual no \u201cdeep blue\u201d, onde facilmente podemos perder o sentido de direcc\u0327a\u0303o.<\/p>\n

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A descida e\u0301 feita lentamente e a profundidade me\u0301dia para encontrar as jamantas costuma ser entre os 12 e os 20 metros. A visibilidade me\u0301dia e\u0301 de 20 a 40 metros, e em dias muito bons, uns 60. Nos 14 metros de profundidade e de ma\u0303os sobrepostas uma na outra \u2013 um mergulhador experiente nunca esbraceja \u2013 esperamos com humildade a chegada dos seres esvoac\u0327antes. No azul difuso e esfumado, aparecem timidamente, uma, depois outra, seguindo-se va\u0301rias em fila indiana. Esvoac\u0327am ordenadas e em grupo e rapidamente conclui\u0301mos, pela magia com que se aproximam, que sa\u0303o ainda mais curiosas do que no\u0301s.<\/p>\n

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Nenhum diciona\u0301rio tera\u0301 adjectivos suficientes para descrever a experie\u0302ncia sublime quando as vemos pela primeira vez. Muitos mergulha- dores te\u0302m la\u0301grimas de emoc\u0327a\u0303o quan- do regressam ao barco. Esta sera\u0301 sempre uma experie\u0302ncia quase impossi\u0301vel de partilhar por palavras, porque a danc\u0327a vive-se tambe\u0301m em uni\u0301ssono interior. E\u0301 uma experie\u0302ncia terrena, mas toca-se de perto algo ete\u0301reo e ma\u0301gico, que na\u0303o e\u0301 daqui.<\/p>\n

Sem dar conta dos minutos, passamos a fazer parte de uma danc\u0327a esvoac\u0327ante, onde as jamantas pas- sam por cima e por baixo dos corpos extasiados, a escassa dista\u0302ncia. O cuidado e\u0301 rigoroso, para nos afastar- mos e na\u0303o tocarmos nestes seres magistrais, que colocam em grande humildade todos os que as ve\u0302m pela primeira vez.<\/p>\n

A deslumbrante agregac\u0327a\u0303o previsi\u0301vel nos montes submarinos (montanhas que se elevam do fundo do oceano, sem atingir a superfi\u0301cie) faz da Baixa do Ambro\u0301sio uma morada aqua\u0301tica u\u0301nica. Na\u0303o apenas para as condic\u0327o\u0303es excepcionais de observa- c\u0327a\u0303o destes animais, mas tambe\u0301m para complementar o estudo da espe\u0301cie. Estudo esse que todos os anos cresce com a contribuic\u0327a\u0303o de fotografias e vi\u0301deos de quem la\u0301 mergulha \u2013 e numa amena temperatura que pode rondar os 24oC.<\/p>\n

A jamanta chilena e\u0301 a que aparece em maior quantidade e distingue-se pela cor dourada, variando entre o verde azeitona e o amarelo torrado. Podendo atingir ate\u0301 3,4 metros de comprimento de ponta a ponta das asas, pode pesar cerca de 400 kg. E\u0301 a u\u0301nica que tem o padra\u0303o ventral e uma cauda fina e comprida. Encontrando-se entre os mergulhadores mais profundos do oceano, as jamantas podem atingir cerca de 2000 metros de profundidade e superam temperaturas de 4o C grac\u0327as ao sistema de irrigac\u0327a\u0303o no ce\u0301rebro, que lhes permite mante\u0302-lo activo quando esta\u0303o a maior profundidade. O tempo que passam mais perto da superfi\u0301cie serve para recuperar a temperatura, actividade que todos os apaixonados por jamantas agradecem.<\/p>\n

Embaixadoras do Ambro\u0301sio de Santa Maria, a ecologia das jamantas permanece um miste\u0301rio. E se hoje sa\u0303o ponto de atracc\u0327a\u0303o para fazer fervilhar o turismo de uma ilha inteira, custa a acreditar que eram temidas pelos humanos ha\u0301 cerca de cem anos. Confundidas com man- chas no mar e com olhos laterais, as carisma\u0301ticas e inofensivas jamantas sa\u0303o, infelizmente, ainda pesca- das pelas guelras e fazem parte de muita sopa. Tambe\u0301m por isso as populac\u0327o\u0303es diminui\u0301ram 80 a 90% em alguns locais do mundo. Em Portugal, felizmente, sa\u0303o um i\u0301man turi\u0301stico e atraem pessoas de todo o planeta.<\/p>\n

We wake at Vigia da Areia, one of the island\u2019s most breathtaking addresses, in the Ba\u00eda de S\u00e3o Louren\u00e7o, and meet twenty minutes later by car at the marina in Vila do Porto. Each diver assembles their own equipment (always checked by the Wahoo team), and we set off on a 35-minute journey along the coast. Fully kitted up and ready to put in the regulator that will connect us to the pulse of life. And to fulfil the dream of so many divers (and mine): diving with manta rays.<\/em><\/p>\n

There are six divers of different nationalities on board, and I am the only Portuguese diver. Seated opposite one another in pairs on the RIB, we enter the water one by one, rolling backwards and turning our backs towards the sea. As in all recreational diving, we must always dive in pairs, and my safety buddy is Steffen. The gods are generous when there is no current, allowing the guides and more experienced divers to venture a little further from the boat\u2019s line. Used not only for our descent, it also serves as a visual reference in the \u201cdeep blue\u201d, where it is all too easy to lose our sense of direction.<\/em><\/p>\n

The descent is slow, and the average depth at which we find the manta rays is between 12 and 20 metres. Average visibility ranges from 20 to 40 metres, and on very good days can reach 60. At 14 metres, with our hands resting one over the other \u2013 an experienced diver never flails their arms \u2013 we wait humbly for the winged creatures to arrive. In the hazy, diffused blue, they appear timidly: one, then another, followed by several more in single file. They glide in formation and as a group, and we quickly realise, enchanted by the way they approach us, that they are even more curious than we are.<\/em><\/p>\n

No dictionary could ever provide enough adjectives to describe the sublime experience of seeing them for the first time. Many divers have tears of emotion when they return to the boat. This will always be an experience almost impossible to share in words, because the dance is also experienced in inner unison. It is a terrestrial experience, yet one that brings us close to something ethereal and magical, something that does not belong here.<\/em><\/p>\n

Without noticing the passing minutes, we become part of a graceful, gliding dance, with the manta rays passing above and below our entranced bodies, at a remarkably close distance. Care is paramount: we must keep our distance and never touch these magnificent creatures, whose presence humbles all those who see them for the first time.<\/em><\/p>\n

The spectacular, predictable aggregation around seamounts (underwater mountains rising from the ocean floor without reaching the surface) makes Baixa do Ambr\u00f3sio a unique aquatic home. Not only because of the exceptional conditions for observing these animals, but also because it contributes to the study of the species. This research grows every year through the photographs and videos collected by those who dive there \u2013 and in pleasantly warm waters that can reach around 24\u00b0C.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Chilean manta ray is the species found in greatest numbers and is distinguished by its golden colouring, ranging from olive green to burnt yellow. Reaching up to 3.4 metres from wingtip to wingtip, it can weigh around 400 kg. It is the only one with a distinctive ventral pattern and a long, slender tail. Among the deepest-diving creatures in the ocean, manta rays can descend to around 2,000 metres and withstand temperatures as low as 4\u00b0C, thanks to a system of blood circulation in the brain that allows it to remain active at great depths. The time they spend closer to the surface helps them recover their body temperature \u2013 an activity for which all manta enthusiasts are grateful.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ambassadors of Ambr\u00f3sio and Santa Maria, the ecology of manta rays remains a mystery. And although today they are a major attraction, drawing visitors from all over the world and helping to fuel tourism across an entire island, it is hard to believe that they were feared by humans around a hundred years ago. Mistaken for patches in the sea and believed to have eyes on their sides, these charismatic and harmless creatures are, sadly, still fished for their gill rakers and used in many soups. As a result, populations have declined by 80 to 90% in some parts of the world. In Portugal, fortunately, they are a powerful tourism magnet, attracting people from across the globe.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Na\u0303o desanime sena\u0303o souber mergulhar com garrafa<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

A experie\u0302ncia da Baixa do Ambro\u0301sio pode ser feita apenas de o\u0301culos e barbatanas na linha de a\u0301gua, pra\u0301tica conhecida por \u201csnorkel\u201d, mas se as jamantas nesse dia na\u0303o vierem ta\u0303o a\u0300 superfi\u0301cie, esta podera\u0301 ser uma experie\u0302ncia difusa ou mesmo frus- trante. Mas porque ha\u0301 sempre salva- c\u0327a\u0303o, pode ainda visualizar as jamantas em realidade virtual, num filme realizado na reserva marinha do Ambro\u0301sio, na Biblioteca Municipal de Vila do Porto.<\/p>\n

O convite e\u0301 feito pela bio\u0301loga marinha Ana Filipa Sobral, ja\u0301 considerada a matriarca das jamantas do Ambro\u0301sio, por ter fundado a plataforma Manta Catalog Azores , e que lhe contara\u0301 ao vivo a histo\u0301ria do seu amor pela ilha de Santa Maria e do seu desejo de salvar a espe\u0301cie. Conte com uma experie\u0302ncia de realidade imersiva, uma tecnologia a partir da qual e\u0301 criado um ambiente virtual e na qual os sentidos humanos sa\u0303o simulados. Acompanhando as palavras da bio\u0301loga – que ja\u0301 ganhou um pre\u0301mio \u201cTerre de Femmes\u201d da Fundac\u0327a\u0303o Yves Rocher, que distingue mulheres comprometidas com o planeta e a protecc\u0327a\u0303o da biodiversidade \u2013 podera\u0301 saber mais sobre estes animais.<\/p>\n

No testemunho de Ana Filipa, grande embaixadora nacional das jamantas que passam todos os anos pelos Ac\u0327ores, este filme em 360\u00b0 foi fundamental para obter legislac\u0327a\u0303o protectora para estes animais esvoac\u0327antes em perigo de extinc\u0327a\u0303o: \u201cSo\u0301 sabemos defender o que conhecemos e por isso e\u0301 ta\u0303o importante ir criando uma ligac\u0327a\u0303o emocional a estes seres u\u0301nicos do planeta\u201d.<\/p>\n

Seja a 20 de profundidade, seja a\u0300 superfi\u0301cie das a\u0301guas da Baixa do Ambro\u0301sio, seja numa experie\u0302ncia imersiva na Biblioteca Municipal da Vila do Porto, as imagens falam por si. No epi\u0301logo de todas as distintas experie\u0302ncias, todos os que sentem o emocionante voo das jamantas selam o postal como uma das experie\u0302ncias mais sublimes e mais extasiantes, que se pode ter em a\u0301guas ac\u0327orianas.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be discouraged if you can\u2019t scuba dive<\/em><\/h4>\n

The Baixa do Ambr\u00f3sio experience can also be enjoyed with just a mask and fins at the water\u2019s surface, a practice known as snorkelling. However, if the manta rays do not come as close to the surface that day, the experience may be hazy or even frustrating. But there is always a solution: you can still see the manta rays in virtual reality, in a film shot in the Ambr\u00f3sio Marine Reserve, at the Vila do Porto Municipal Library.<\/em><\/p>\n

The invitation comes from marine biologist Ana Filipa Sobral, already considered the matriarch of the Ambr\u00f3sio manta rays. She founded the Manta Catalog Azores platform and will tell you, in person, the story of her love for Santa Maria and her desire to save the species. Expect an immersive reality experience, a technology that creates a virtual environment in which the human senses are simulated. Accompanied by the biologist\u2019s words \u2013 she has already received a Terre de Femmes award from the Yves Rocher Foundation, which honours women committed to the planet and the protection of biodiversity \u2013 you will learn more about these extraordinary animals.<\/em><\/p>\n

According to Ana Filipa, a leading Portuguese ambassador for the manta rays that return to the Azores every year, this 360\u00b0 film was fundamental in helping to secure protective legislation for these endangered, winged creatures: \u201cWe only know how to protect what we know, which is why it is so important to create an emotional connection with these unique beings on the planet.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Whether at 20 metres below the surface, on the waters of the Baixa do Ambr\u00f3sio, or through an immersive experience at the Vila do Porto Municipal Library, the images speak for themselves. At the end of each of these very different experiences, everyone who has felt the exhilarating flight of the manta rays seals the memory as one of the most sublime and exhilarating experiences to be had in Azorean waters.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\" \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"\" \"\" \"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Artigo publicado a 11 de Setembro de 2021, no suplemento Fugas do Jornal Publico<\/a>.
\nArticle published on September 11, 2021, in the Fugas<\/a> supplement of the P\u00fablico newspaper.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Este artigo foi tamb\u00e9m publicado no P\u00fablico. This article was also published in\u00a0P\u00fablico. Muitos sa\u0303o os que atravessam o planeta para nadarem com as jamantas da Baixa do Ambro\u0301sio, na ilha de Santa Maria. Conhecidas por se agregarem em grande quantidade nos Ac\u0327ores, ja\u0301 se tornaram estrelas maiores da ilha do Sol. Aqui, pode testemunhar-se […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":171719,"featured_media":45963,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[186,376,383,350,47,381,370],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nJamantas, h\u00e1 vida et\u00e9rea nas \u00e1guas de Santa Maria | Sancha Trindade l TV - Published Articles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"pt_PT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Jamantas, h\u00e1 vida et\u00e9rea nas \u00e1guas de Santa Maria | Sancha Trindade l TV - Published Articles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Este artigo foi tamb\u00e9m publicado no P\u00fablico. This article was also published in\u00a0P\u00fablico. Muitos sa\u0303o os que atravessam o planeta para nadarem com as jamantas da Baixa do Ambro\u0301sio, na ilha de Santa Maria. Conhecidas por se agregarem em grande quantidade nos Ac\u0327ores, ja\u0301 se tornaram estrelas maiores da ilha do Sol. 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