Marine life profile
Manta Ray
Recorded at 571 dive sitesWhere divers encounter it
Explore Manta Ray around the world
Manta rays are large rays belonging to the genus Mobula. It cruises, feeds and visits cleaning stations with slow wingbeats that make a huge animal appear weightless.
Meet the species
What to look for
How to Recognize It
An immense diamond-shaped ray with forward-facing cephalic fins that curl and unfurl beside its wide mouth.
How It Behaves
It cruises, feeds and visits cleaning stations with slow wingbeats that make a huge animal appear weightless.
Special Ability
Rolled cephalic fins open into funnels that guide plankton-rich water toward the mouth.
Dive responsibly
Share the water well
How to Approach
Stay low and still at cleaning stations. Never swim above, touch or chase a manta, and leave its route open.
Safety
Do not touch, stand on or crowd a resting ray. Give the tail room and shuffle carefully in shallow sandy water.
Worth knowing
The detail you remember
Interesting Facts
Individual mantas can be identified by the unique pattern of spots on their underside.
Where to Find
Search sandy flats, cleaning stations, reef passes and current-swept channels, especially around feeding or cleaning time.
Known countries
Sightings map
Manta Ray locations
Plan a dive
Dive sites with reported encounters
Ilha do Meio
Brazil
Sheltered and quiet place with dives up to 15 m depth. This island, which lies between the Sea of Outside and the Sea of Inside, is very rich in marine life.
Johnny's Gorge
India
Johnny's Gorge is a bed of low-lying rocky outcrops emerging from the bottom at 26metres / 85 feet. Surrounded by sand in every direction, these rocks have become an oasis of security and food for everything from small angelfish and anemonefish to spectacular schools of mackerels, barracudas, trevallies, bumphead parrotfish, surgeonfish, and snappers. And if this isn't enough, this world-class dive site is also home to reef sharks, giant groupers, large stingrays, and visiting manta and eagle rays. There is very rarely a quiet moment at Johnny's Gorge.
Kandooma Thila
Maldives
Kandooma Thila, or also called Cocoa Thila, is one of the most exciting dives in South Male’ Atoll with great scenery as well as prolific fish life. The west and north side are the most spectacular, with the top at 16m. These are a focal point for schools of Bluefin Trevallies, eagle rays, dogtooth tunas and loose groups of gray reef sharks (50+ in the right current). Cleaning station for grey reef , you can see them going in a vertical position while small wrasses are cleaning them. Currents can be very strong making it a challenging dive. For experienced divers only.
Manta Point
Indonesia
One of the most famous dive sites in the Bali region, this is a manta cleaning station on the southwest coast of Nusa Penida. An exposed site, Manta Point can only be dived when conditions are favourable. Coral growth is not prolific here, with bottom topography consisting of limestone rocks and small, sandy bays. Reef mantas (manta alfredi) seek shelter provided by the bays for cleaning, socialising and also for feeding when plankton aggregations occur. In addition to mantas, blue spotted sting rays, eagle rays, bamboo reef sharks, turtles and molas can be regularly sighted. Suitable for all levels of diver and snorkelling.
Pelican Rock
Mexico
Pelican Rock is one of Cabo's most famous sites. A pinnacle covered in purple fans rising up above the surface from around 14 meters underwater at its deepest. Just in front of the pinnacle we also have a beautiful wall dive filled with life, and off to its side one of Cabo's famous sand falls. The dive site has something for everyone. The shallows are great for courses & newer divers, while the deep walls make it an incredible spot for tec divers to explore. But the big highlight is the sheer amount of life that inhabits the site all year round, making it a beautiful spot for all levels of divers.
Diving in Ras Mohamed is a top attraction for divers due to its stunning coral reefs and rich marine life. Key highlights include: Home to vibrant ecosystems with diverse hard and soft corals. Popular spots include Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, known for their beauty and marine life. Encounter species like clownfish, turtles, and even sharks. Clear waters often exceed 30 meters, ideal for underwater exploration. Suitable for all skill levels, with guided tours available. With its breath-taking underwater scenery, Ras Mohamed is a must-visit for diving enthusiasts.
7 sisters (الشعاب السبعة)
Saudi Arabia
It is a group of 7 different coral reefs, the seven reefs characterized with very clear visibility and very distinctive marine life. The seven reefs have strong currents and depths suitable for experienced divers, which is why some previous experience in these reefs can be improved.
Abo Almadafee أبو المدافع
Saudi Arabia
There are types of sharks, tuna, barracuda and dolphins, characterized by currents and good visibility, there are caves in it, and there is an area behind the Abu almadafea that is useful for snorkeling and swimming.
Abrolhos / Chapeirão Faca Cega
Location being verified
The set of coral pinnacles that received the name of “Faca Cega“ (Blind Knife) consists of one of the main diving points of the Abrolhos Archipelago. It has a room that reaches a depth of 25 meters, with almost 20 meters in diameter. The view is impressive, with several passages and burrows.
Admiral 1
Maldives
It is one of the channels on the Western side of the atoll that can be crossed with mild current or entered with medium/strong current. Usually found on the outer side: stingrays, grey reef sharks, napoleon wrasses, fusiliers and many more reef fish.
Aiona Wreck (حطام أيونا)
Saudi Arabia
ربما أفضل حطام في الجانب السعودي من البحر الأحمر. مليئة بالحياة البحرية. يتم تقسيم هذا الحطام إلى أجزاء 2 ، واحد يصلح لمستوى الدخول مع مسافة مفتوحة والآخر يناسب الغواصين الأعمق والمتقدم مع الممرات والغرف وعمق يصل إلى 50 مترا.
Al Munassir Wreck
Oman
Al Munassir wreck was a Navy vessel 84 m long sunken on porpose in 2003. The vessel lays between 25 and 30 m of depth in navigation position.The wreck is house of many fishes, and abundant biodiversity
Ambrósio
Portugal
Imagine a dive site you can reach by daily trips from Santa Maria Island where, when the water temperature is, more or less above 22 ºC (between July and October), on more than 90% of the dives there, you can have many big mantas (mobulas) around you all the time – sometimes with more than 30 mobulas.
Anas Reef
Saudi Arabia
Anas Reef is a coral island located in the general vicinity of Abu Tair area, the reef is healthy and has plenty to offer, sponges in the reef makes for clear waters year round for excellent visibility. sharks and rays are common site as well as all the typical fishes you expect to see in the red sea
Anau
French Polynesia
The dive site Anau offers easy and protected diving in the lagoon. It is possible to see manta rays all year because it is a cleaning station. Turtles are also sometimes observed.
ANZAC
Fiji
A single coral head starting at 3msw with a highly decorated swim-through in the middle & dropping down to over 30msw. This site can be dived at anytime however strong running current brings out the best for divers to see. Also suitable for snorklers with some experience.
Aquarium
Oman
Underwater mountain located 15 minutes boat ride from the Daymaniat island. It’s one of the best dive sites in the area. It’s not reccommended to put the anchor, but instead a small shotline as reference for the descent. It can be dived left shoulder or right shoulder . Best to be dived between 15 and 8 m.
Aquarium / Lhohifushi Corner
Maldives
This dive site is located right next to the island. The long reef ends into a corner of the canal. Here you can see several highlights. A very nice dive site for beginners as well as experienced divers.
Aride Bank
Seychelles
Situated north of Praslin island, approximately 30-35 mins by boat, time may vary depending on the weather conditions. The dive sites consists mostly of submerged granitic rocks. The average depth is between 12-22 metres.
Arno’s Underwater Reef
Indonesia
On the most favorable days, the current is strong. Try to start close to the drop off otherwise you better have freediving fins to move quicker and save deco time. On the drop off there is a great overhang from 28 to 35 m, you can then go deeper than 50 m. The end is on nice soft coral garden up to 5 m.
Back Kani
Maldives
Easy but always nice dive. The top of the reef drops down from 7m to 30/35m and then runs into the sand. Depending on the current, you simply dive the right or left shoulder. With a little luck, this dive site offers everything that makes diving exciting!
Banana Garden
Maldives
Exceptionally beautiful hard coral garden in the very West of Banana Reef. Coral mounts with mostly stony coral between 5 and 15m with loads of different reef fish and sometimes turtles or octopus.
Banana Reef / Manta Point
Maldives
This dive site is well known as a Manta Ray Cleaning and feeding zone from April to beginning of November and some times into mid-December. This is one of the best places to dive with these giant rays within this part of the Atoll.
bargibenti
New Caledonia
Two superb pinnacles at the entrance to the Grande Passe de Poindimié, descend into the blue in search of Bargibenti seahorses and garden eels. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for big pelagics and sharks of all kinds.