Majestic, their large fins resembling outstretched wings give the impression that they are flying above the reefs… encountering a manta ray is a magical moment in any diver’s life. Here you can find a non-exhaustive list of 10 ideal destinations to dive alongside this graceful animal.
(photo above: © Nicolas Barraqué)

1- Socorro, Mexico

The Revillagigedos archipelago, better known as Socorro, off the Mexican coast in the Pacific, is only accessible by cruise. Composed of four volcanic islands/rocks (San Benedicto, Socorro, Roca Partida, and Clarion), it is renowned for its impressive concentration of giant manta rays, some reaching up to 6 meters in wingspan! Around the first island, San Benedicto, manta rays are notably found at the sites of the Canyon and the Boiler, where there is a cleaning station. Not very shy, these enormous animals easily approach divers, enjoying their bubbles along the way. Near the rock of Roca Partida, it is not uncommon to backflip onto a manta close to the surface! There, dives with the giant rays are even more spectacular, with coral-shark ‘HLMs’, schools of hammerhead sharks, and the presence of dolphins and turtles.

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2- Bali

In Indonesia, Bali is better known for its underwater encounters with the famous mola-mola than for its concentration of rays. However, they are quite rare except at one particular site: Manta Point. Located south of the small island of Nusa Penida (southeast of Bali), this cleaning station is frequented by many rays. Between 5 and 10 meters deep, this dive is accessible to everyone, regardless of level. Unlike Socorro, the animals are shy. Let them swirl around you without trying to approach them; the spectacle is worth the detour. A few meters from this site, dive onto a plateau where whitetip reef sharks and nurse sharks can be seen. As for the mola-mola, you can try to see it at the Crystal Bay site, northwest of Nusa Penida.

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3- Yap

In the heart of the Pacific in Micronesia, the small island of Yap is nothing less than a manta ray sanctuary. A colony of about a hundred rays lives there year-round. Observe them in winter, from December to April, in the Mi’l channel to the west. It’s the mating season then, and they may be present in groups of up to fifteen. In summer, head east to the Goofnuw channel at the Manta Valley site. At these cleaning stations, exceptional visibility (40 to 50 meters) allows for enjoying the spectacle: divers only need to wait on the sandy bottom to see the majestic mantas being cleaned by wrasses. Enjoy other dives on the island by exploring the many caves, admiring the multicolored corals, and marveling at the other star of the archipelago: the mandarin fish.

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4- Mozambique

A profusion of pelagic life, sharks, whales, and of course, manta rays await you in Mozambique, on the east coast of Africa. To particularly encounter mantas, stay in Tofo near Inhambane, in the south of the country. The Manta Reef site comprises two cleaning stations frequented year-round by giant manta rays that can reach 6 meters in wingspan. Between 21 and 26 meters deep, divers seated on the sand can sometimes admire up to 10 rays at the same time. They swirl above them, being cleaned by anthias and wrasses. On these sites, it’s not uncommon to also encounter eagle rays, mobulas, not to mention whale sharks and humpback whales.

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5- Rangiroa, Fakarava and Tikehau in the Tuamotu

The Tuamotu archipelago, in French Polynesia, is composed of 76 atolls surrounded by a coral barrier. The lagoons are connected to the ocean by passes where most dives occur. Manta rays can be seen on numerous sites from June to October. For the most experienced divers, head to the atoll of Rangiroa and its Tiputa and Avatoru passes. Mantas are present amidst a large crowd of other species, including dolphins, sharks, barracudas, and turtles. In the mythical northern pass of the Fakarava atoll, 1.6 km wide, rays are a part of the underwater landscape, alongside barracudas and gray sharks. Beginner divers will favor the atoll of Tikehau, whose lagoon hosts a renowned cleaning station, accessible for both diving and snorkeling.

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6- Maldives

In the heart of the Indian Ocean, manta rays are the stars of diving in the Maldives. According to the Manta Trust organization, there are about 5000 in the country’s waters. Passing year-round at the cleaning stations of various atolls depending on the season, they are ubiquitous on many sites. From January to May, in high season, head to the Ari atoll. Three cleaning stations there host manta rays that glide over coral heads and reefs accompanied by turtles. It’s enough to stay discreet not to scare them away. In the same season in the North Atoll, sometimes up to 30 individuals can be seen by divers on Baarah’s seamount. Out of season, from May to November, the rays gather on other cleaning stations, particularly in the north and south Male atolls, where they enjoy the outgoing current. It is then necessary to be very discreet to approach them as closely as possible without being noticed.

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7- Cocos in Costa Rica

A trip to Cocos Island is well deserved: 36 hours of navigation are required to reach the surroundings of this completely protected site, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Let’s be honest, the stars of Cocos Island are the hammerhead sharks, venturing into the waters of this small Costa Rican island in schools of hundreds. But the dives also offer beautiful encounters, just as magical, with manta rays. These can be seen at the mythical Bajo Alcyone site, at the Manuelita cleaning station, or at Punta Maria. But the best site to meet this majestic animal is Manta Corner, south of the island. Accessible only in calm weather, this 27-meter dive can offer the luckiest interactions with dozens of giant mantas. Very unshy, they tend to accompany divers, circling them or passing just above their heads.

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Ballet de raies mantas à Cocos (à 2’20 » dans la vidéo).

8- Komodo

Komodo Island is located at the convergence of the Indian Ocean, to the south, and the Pacific Ocean, to the north. Manta rays can be seen year-round in these plankton-rich waters. Access to the island is only possible by diving cruise. From April to October, head north to the warm waters of the Cauldron site. The mantas then take advantage of the extremely strong current above rocky canyons. It’s a sporty dive where divers must find an anchorage point, but the spectacle is worth all these efforts. From October to April, divers immerse themselves in the south of the island. At Manta Alley (Karang Makasar) site, where groups of dozens of rays can be seen, enjoying a real feast of plankton.

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9- Fiji

East of Indonesia, the Fiji Islands are renowned for their soft corals, among the most beautiful in the world. Manta rays are visible around two main islands: Yasawa and Kadavu. The first, north of the archipelago, hosts manta rays from May to October. They can then be seen snorkeling in the Manta Ray Channel, a plankton-rich channel with a cleaning station. In the south of the archipelago, rays have made their home year-round in the lagoon of Kadavu Island, on the Great Astrolabe reef. Not very shy, they are easily approachable and can measure up to 6 meters in wingspan.

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10- Hawaii

The unique feature of diving in Hawaii is discovering manta rays at night. On Big Island, off Kona, divers and snorkeling enthusiasts depart on their boat at sunset. Light spots are placed in the water, attracting plankton, which in turn attracts the manta rays. During the dives, an average of 5 to 6 of them can be observed simultaneously. The luckiest can witness the ballet of about thirty individuals feasting on plankton. During these immersions, the rays, which measure an average of 3 meters in wingspan, pass just a few centimeters from the divers.

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