![]() Similar to Socorro, once you’re there, it’s largely your personal underwater playground. 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. 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. Be sure to make reservations and bring plenty of cash as the island nation is notoriously pricey. During this time, hundreds of Mantas and a plethora of whale sharks gather to slurp up plentiful plankton that frequent the atoll’s waters. 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. ![]() 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. ![]() So while the approach might be demanding, the destination will be sparsely populated and you’ll largely have it to yourself. 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. 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. 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.Ĭhristian Miller photo. 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. Large groups are also known to frequent Manta Ray Alley in the waters of Komodo, Indonesia. 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. ![]() 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. ![]() 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. 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. 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 !īut take heart, because there are some spots that you can go (post-Covid) that are likely to deliver a Manta sighting. ![]()
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