Global Dive Team - Keller Laros
Keller Laros
Location: Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Occupation: Scuba Instructor and Marine Naturalist
Scuba Diving Since: 1984. As of 10-18-24 14,863 logged open water scuba dives.
Favorite Local Dive: Garden Eel Cove at Makako Bay Hawaii
Favorite Dive Location: Kona, Hawaii
An Interview with Keller Laros
Why did you decide to take the giant stride into the oceans?
In college I was a political science major and got certified to scuba dive to get the marine biology lab credit required for my bachelor’s degree. This involved a semester of marine bio classes during the fall semester followed by a 2 week trip to scuba dive in Bimini and Grand Cayman and study coral reef ecology. After that I was hooked. Turns out that the poli sci major helped out much later when we got legislation passed in 2009 protecting manta rays in Hawaii.
How has diving changed your life?
When I met the Kona manta rays for the first time in August 1985 it was an epiphany. After that my focus turned to scuba diving and I became an instructor. I moved to Hawaii in 1991, met my wife (also an instructor) got into business, started a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to research, education and conservation of manta rays and raised a family of two sons and a daughter everyone in our family grew up snorkeling and diving. My kids find dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays and shark mondain.
What kind of diving do you like to do?
I'm mostly a scuba diving instructor and an underwater tour guide and it thrills me to be able to share the magic of the underwater world. I take lots of underwater photos that I share with our divers so that they can hopefully share their experience and pass on the passion. I also use the images of the manta rays to increase our know about the species through our data base which currently has over 350 unique individual mantas.
Tell us about one of the most amazing experiences you have had underwater?
The most amazing underwater experience I've ever had was in 2013 when a bottlenose dolphin approached me during a manta ray night dive and had me remove fishing hooks and lines from its pectoral fin. The video went worldwide. Turns out that dolphin has a scar behind his left eye and after looking back through my old photos and videos, we had met before and have met since. It's a big ocean so it's nice to have friends.
Where are some of your favorite places underwater?
Suck 'Em Up Lava Tube in Kohanaiki, Kona, Hawaii is my special place. The combination of underwater volcanic topography with amazing marine life and the streaming light creates a truly gorgeous place.
What is your advice to someone considering diving?
My motivation has always been my deep love of the underwater world and my desire to share it. Breathing underwater is my "Super Power" and sharing it with my students and divers is one of my greatest pleasures. My advice is find your magic and turn it on and turn it out and give it to those around you. I think that sharing the magic with your family, friends, students and customers should be your ethos.
What would you tell people about the oceans?
Earth, our Blue Planet, our home, is delicate and fragile and the oceans are the foundation of life on earth. I urge everyone to advocate for and vigorously act to improve the health of the oceans, the environment and advance the health of Earth.
What does diving mean to you?
For me, scuba diving is freedom. Freedom from gravity and freedom to interact with animals on their terms.
What's your favorite thing in your dive bag?
My favorite thing underwater is my iPhone. Having started back with 36 exposures of color film in a Nikonos 4 then into 8mm video tape and a Sony camcorder in a big old housing. The ease of use of the cameras and housings now days make underwater imaging so much more fun and rewarding. When I am lucky enough to meet an unfamiliar manta ray I am able to search our data base as soon as I get out of the water.
Follow Keller Laros on Instagram: @manta_man
Follow Keller Laros on Facebook: Manta Pacific Research Foundation
Follow Keller Laros on Tiktok: @mmantaman
And check mantapacific.org or jacksdivinglocker.com for more Info.
