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There are few things in the life of a diver as memorable as spotting your first Manta Ray. Whether up close and personal or breaching the ocean’s surface 100 meters away, the grace and power of these creatures is simply unforgettable.
Sharks are great and schools are fantastic, but once you’ve seen a Manta in the wild, almost everything else pales in comparison. Yet, these fighter-jet like fish (yes, they’re fish) are ever elusive and finding one in the open can be like rolling the dice.
So even if you’re on a quest to spot one of these majestic ocean-going beasts of the deep, come with a Plan B and try to seat your expectations low, because when it comes to spotting a Manta, there are never any guarantees—unless you’re rocking a pair of Manta Ray Fins!
But take heart, because there are some spots that you can go (post-Covid) that are likely to deliver a Manta sighting. From the turquoise waters of the Maldives to the volcanic islands of Hawaii, Manta Rays span the globe and glide their way wherever they please, as long as there’s some tasty plankton to grub on.
If you’re interested in upping your chances of finding a Manta in the wild, here are some top-contender locales to put on your itinerary for your next big dive adventure.
1.) Kona, Hawaii
If you want a near-guaranteed sighting, head to Kona, Hawaii, where outfitters have historically offered popular night snorkel excursions that commonly deliver Manta viewing opportunities. Although Mantas are known to swim across the entire volcanic archipelago, the Big Island yields sightings year-round and might be your best shot at a slam dunk.
2.) Komodo, Indonesia
Large groups are also known to frequent Manta Ray Alley in the waters of Komodo, Indonesia. While it’s possible to get a sighting year-round, the best time to visit is during the southern- hemisphere summer, from December through February. If you’re planning to pull the trigger on a trip to Komodo, be warned: permitting for the world-famous Komodo National Park has tightened greatly over the past couple years and you’ll need to plan this excursion well in advance to guarantee entry.
3.) Socorro Island, Mexico
Located 240 miles off the coast of Baja California, Socorro Island is one of the very best places in the world to see and swim with Manta Rays. The isolated island also offers top notch shark viewing and is one of the only places on Earth to swim with Humpback whales, so you can get a lot of bang for your buck! What’s the catch? At a pretty heft distance from the mainland, a trip to Socorro requires a long boat ride and is only possible via a liveaboard cruise. So while the approach might be demanding, the destination will be sparsely populated and you’ll largely have it to yourself.
4.) Maldives
The island nation of Maldives is perhaps one of the most famous snorkel and dive destinations on the planet, so it’s no surprise that it makes our list as a go-to Manta viewing region. To satisfy your Manta obsession, head to Baa Atoll from June to November to experience one of the grandest collections of marine life in the ocean. During this time, hundreds of Mantas and a plethora of whale sharks gather to slurp up plentiful plankton that frequent the atoll’s waters. Be sure to make reservations and bring plenty of cash as the island nation is notoriously pricey.
5.) Cocos Island, Costa Rica
Popular for viewing a variety of marine species, remote Cocos Island is one of the most pristine and sparsely populated islands in the Eastern Pacific. It’s isolation—a full 260 miles from the Costa Rican mainland—means that trips to Cocos take roughly 8-10 days and are only possible through liveaboard excursion. Similar to Socorro, once you’re there, it’s largely your personal underwater playground. Experience schools of hammerheads and tuna, dolphins, whale sharks and a plethora of other species, including the majestic Manta Ray.