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5 Places You Can Scuba Dive with Manta Rays

5 Places You Can Scuba Dive with Manta Rays

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
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Published on June 14, 2017

Manta rays are massive, beautiful, and elegant creatures. Despite their impressive size, there is little for humans to fear as mantas are gentle filter-feeders. If you’re an avid scuba diver, it’s likely that diving with them is on your bucket list. Here are five of the best and most beautiful places from around the globe that you can dive with manta rays.

Socorro Island, Mexico

This island is about 375 miles off the coast of Baja, California and boasts some amazing opportunities for diving. From November to June there are usually about 500 mantas that inhabit the surrounding waters, making it the perfect place to spot a few.

Kona, Hawaii

Going on a dive with manta rays here is unique for a couple reasons. First, the diving almost always takes place at night. Second, divers actually help to feed the manta rays. The dive operators shine a bright light that attracts plankton. The manta rays come out to eat the plankton, and that is when the scuba divers descend into the water. During these night excursions, divers can expect to be surrounded by upwards of 10 rays at one time!

Maldives

Made up of 1,192 small islands clustered near each other, there are plenty of different scuba diving locations in the Maldives. During monsoon season from May to October, mantas frequently visit the islands to feed and visit cleaning stations. Divers who visit during this time can expect to see incredibly pristine water, varied aquatic life, and plenty of manta rays.

Bali

Located in Indonesia, Bali has quickly climbed its way up to one of the world’s top dive destinations. This is due to its beautiful water, clean beaches, and amazing aquatic life. August to October is the time frame that provides the most manta ray viewing opportunities.

Australia

If you want to dive with manta rays year round, Australia is perfect. Mantas can be spotted all along the coasts no matter what season it is. Lady Elliot Island, which is located in the Great Barrier Reef, is one of the best places for spotting rays and other aquatic life.

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

Marketing Director for LeisurePro