Imagine. An underwater ballet performed by the most majestic and graceful animals of the ocean. Rolling and gliding through the water column. Flowing across the deepest blue depths and vibrant rainbow reefs. Imagine an interaction of the utmost intimacy as you are faced with a wild animal who comes, just to check you out, with only a meter distance between the both of you, before drifting away to once again dance with its friends.

This is the experience of diving with manta rays.

The allure and mysticism of manta rays is something that has been capturing the interest of humans for decades. From Indonesia to Mexico, Japan to Australia, Costa Rica to Fiji - There are only a handful of places in the world that can offer this unreal experience of a lifetime. Here are 5 of the best places that should probably be at the very top of all bucket lists.

Mexico - Socorro Island

600 kilometers off the coast of Mexico, alone in the expanse of the Pacific Ocean is the volcanic Socorro Island. Its nutrient-rich surrounding coral reefs are home to the most consistent population of oceanic manta rays. With a wingspan that can reach up to 7 meters wide, these gigantic rays are inquisitive beings and will most definitely interact with you at depth. The best time of year for this experience is between the months of May and June. However, it might also be handy to consider the incredible variety of other pelagic species which journey to this site as well. Bottlenose dolphins are frequent visitors, along with silky sharks, whalesharks, schools of hammerheads and tunas. You must be thinking that this couldn’t get any better? Well, it actually can. From the months of January to April, migrating humpback whales also cruise the waters surrounding Socorro. With only that to be said, this spot is definitely one for the books.

Indonesia - Bali, Nusa Penida

Hidden at the base of sheer limestone cliffs and Jurrasic-like wilderness, the Southern bays of Nusa Penida are known as manta ray cleaning stations, feeding grounds, mating sites, and nurseries. The best time of year to experience these moments is in the peak dry season months of August and September. The water temperature also brings about the elusive sunfish or mola-mola. Picture it: a stunning 30-minute boat trip along the ridges of Penida, a dive with resident reef mantas, a surface interval sunbathing in tropical Indonesian paradise, with a second dive over beautiful sloping reefs, and a mola-mola coming up from the deep. The ocean never guarantees anything, but I can honestly say that I’ve had more days like this than I can count.

Indonesia - Raja Ampat

The magic of Indonesia doesn’t end there. The extraordinary expanse of islands that is Raja Ampat homes both oceanic and reef manta rays alike. With sites such as Manta Sandy, Eagle Rock, Manta Ridge, and Wayad Lagoon playing host to reef mantas, Blue Magic is frequently visited by oceanic manta rays, and Magic Mountain is known for dives where you can see both species together, between December to March. Sightings are constantly increasing in Raja Ampat, and thus new dive sites are also being discovered all the time.

Hawaii - Kona

One of the few places in the world to night dive with Manta rays is in Kona, Hawaii. With a resident population of 200 reef mantas, the night dive is a surreal event in which divers rest on the sandy ocean floor, while snorkelers float on the surface, leaving an illuminated space in the middle of the water column for the marvelous creatures to swim and feed. It is a spectacular sight and a completely different experience to any day dive out there.

Maldives - Baa Atoll

Home to the largest reef manta ray population of up to 10,000 individuals, this spot in the middle of the Indian Ocean shouldn’t fall off of your dive bucket list. Here, mantas congregate to feed over pinnacles and through deep channels, converging with tons of other pelagic species all year round. Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll is the only UNESCO Marine Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives, and from June to November, the impeccable vista of cyclone feeding can be witnessed.

The ocean and our manta rays are already facing a stacking array of threats to their population due to overfishing, climate change, ocean acidification, and pollution. Diving with operators that have a code of conduct for interacting with wildlife and the marine environment is an essential part of responsible tourism.

Written by Kayli Wouters

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