Beautifully majestic, and capable of attaining weight in excess of a ton, Manta Rays are incredible to watch; just imagine a ray with a wingspan of more than 5 meters across flying gracefully overhead while enjoying the tickling sensation of your bubbles on its belly! It is easy to identify a Manta Ray; their dorsal sides are dark greyish blue, while their ventral sides are almost pure white. They carry no sting, and their mouths are typically held wide open in order to collect plankton.
While there are countless dive destinations where one can encounter mantas worldwide, some areas seem to have a magnetic pull, attracting large numbers of Mantas. In general, Manta Rays inhabit tropical waters; though they are pelagics capable of making long journeys across open water, they often congregate in reef habitats, and they particularly enjoy visiting cleaning stations. We've been fortunate enough to enjoy many Manta Ray encounters; now, we're going to share Just Gotta Dive's favorite destinations for enjoying the company of mantas.
Kona, Hawaii
While some world class manta dive sites are difficult to access and suitable only for certified divers, anyone can enjoy a Manta Ray encounter at Kona. Dive operators specialize in Manta Ray night dives at a well-known feeding ground, in which divers head to the sandy bottom of the site (depth is about 25 feet,) and snorkelers remain on top of the water. The mantas swirl in circles in the water column between the divers and snorkelers, feeding excitedly on the plankton that is attracted by the lights each person holds. Divers shine their lights up, while snorkelers shine theirs down; not only does this attract plenty of plankton, it also provides plenty of light for everyone to see by!
A group of about 125 resident mantas call the Kona coast home, and at least some of the mantas show up each evening in anticipation of a diver-assisted buffet. This is a great experience for anyone, it's suitable for families, and it can easily be worked in to your Hawaiian vacation plans. You can visit the mantas in Kona any time of year, and the experience takes about three hours.
The Maldives
Offering outstanding diving, with several small islands surrounded by clear, blue water, the Maldives is an exceptional place for encountering Manta Rays. While there's manta potential at most dive sites here, one of the best sites for almost guaranteed manta encounters is Manta Point. Located on the northwestern side of Ari Atoll, the site often attracts huge swarms of mantas; on occasion, as many as 150 individuals can be seen at one time. Another great site is the Dhigu Thila cleaning station at South Male Atoll. Here, the mantas gather to enjoy the services of smaller fish, who are more than happy to remove plankton buildup from their gills; at this site, divers simply drop to the sandy bottom, relax, and watch one of nature's most incredible shows.
Most diving in the Maldives is conducted via liveaboard, and the dive operators are skilled at finding mantas for divers to swim with. The sites you visit will vary seasonally, as the mantas do tend to migrate along with the plankton they feed on.
Koh Bon, Thailand
Part of the Similan Islands National Park, Koh Bon is one of Thailand's best sites for encountering mantas; even though it's about an hour away from the main island group. Unlike some of our favorite manta dive sites, this one is not for beginners, as currents can be strong; on the flip side, visibility tends to be very good, so you can see the mantas even if they are not right on top of you. Typically, you'll drop in on the south wall, where cleaning stations are found; to the west, a ridge drops away to depths beyond 40 meters. Here, you can often peer out into the blue for a view of the mantas and other pelagics, including leopard sharks and eagle rays, coming in to the reef area.
Just west of Koh Bon itself is Koh Bon Pinnacle, which is sometimes washed by currents too fierce to allow for diving. When it is diveable though, the site is fantastic; it rises up a depth of about 40 meters to a depth of 18 meters, and is covered in bright yellow soft corals. Koh Bon Pinnacle is usually teeming with manta rays, along with sharks and eagle rays.
While you can take a day trip to Koh Bon out of Khao Lak, you'll enjoy the experience more if you travel with a liveaboard. The sites visited by day tripping dive operators are often busy, and with a liveaboard, you can experience better manta action and even go on some night dives.
Komodo, Indonesia
An outstanding dive destination, no matter how you look at it, Komodo is located in Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands. One of the best sites for encountering mantas here is Manta Reef, which is a long shoal where you can either drift or hang out at one of the numerous cleaning stations. When currents are not running, the site is suitable for snorkeling; in addition to the Manta Rays you'll find here, there are eagle rays, humphead parrotfish, thorny backed rays, and small reef sharks.
Nearby, Manta Alley is a great site for encountering mantas; normally, there are between 10 to 15 individuals here, and if you're lucky, you'll encounter juvenile manta rays, which are even more active than their parents. Unlike the reef, this site does have a bit of current and though it's a shallow 15 meters deep, it is best suited to experienced divers.
Yap
The little island of Yap, which is part of the Federated States of Micronesia, is a great place for wreck diving, which is one reason it makes its way onto lots of divers' bucket lists. It is also an outstanding destination for manta encounters. Though you'll see mantas at most sites around Yap, the best place to encounter them is at Manta Ridge, which is well-known as one of the world's top Manta Ray dive sites. During the winter months, from December to late April, a drift along Mi'il Channel allows you a view of mantas congregating to mate. During the summer, the mantas are more often encountered at Goofnuw channel. Finally, all year long, the rays come to one of the Manta Cleaning Stations, which are located in protected channels that punctuate the barrier reef. There are over 100 resident mantas living near Yap, and they are not at all shy about coming close to divers; often, they'll glide past, leaving just a few inches to spare.
Yap's dive operators are well-versed in local Manta Ray behavior and do all they can to ensure visitors get to enjoy manta ray encounters.
At Scuba Divers Travel Network, our mission is not just to help divers like you to enjoy world-class experiences; we also have a deep commitment to keeping marine life safe and healthy. When diving with manta rays, please refrain from touching them, even though they may seem to invite attention; their bodies are covered in a jellylike substance that acts as a protective barrier to prevent skin infections. With human contact, the risk of infection increases. Also, never try to chase or ride a manta; instead, treat these magnificent animals with care and respect, and watch for them to make eye contact with you. They like making new friends, and this is the best way to go about it - and a great way to make memories that will last a lifetime!