What They Are
Manta rays are cartilaginous fish and belong to the shark family, although
they are distantly related. Mantas live in temperate tropical waters and
are open ocean creatures. However, they often visit reefs regularly to
feed on plankton and allow small fish to clean their skins. There are
two types of manta rays – the larger is known as the manta birostris
and the smaller is the manta alfredi. The alfredi is usually found
nearer the coast. Although they are found in groups near the reefs,
mantas are solitary creatures that swim alone and only gather to feed
and to mate. They are intelligent animals and have the largest brain to
body ratio in the ray and shark family.
What They Look Like
Manta
rays have flat disc like bodies of a diamond shape. While being similar
in appearance to other types of rays, mantas are the largest of their
type. Because the shape of their horns is said to give them a devilish
appearance, they are also known as Devil Rays. Adult rays usually have a
wingspan of about 11 feet although some have been found with spans of
up to 25 feet. Female rays tend to be larger than the males. Manta are
black and gray on the top and mainly white on the underside. The black
and gray pattern is unique to each manta and can be used to identify
individual rays similar to the way stripes are used to identify
individual tigers. The weight of the mantas varies, but a thumb rule is
to estimate a weight of 50 to 100 pounds for each foot of length. Their
lifespan is believed to be anywhere between 50 to 100 years.
Where They Swim
The
manta alfredi is found in the waters, off the Big Island of Hawaii.
Although they can dive as deep as 700 feet, they usually swim between
the surface and 80 feet down, making it easy for snorkelers to get close
to them. On an average, they can be found at depths of around 30 feet.
The
best way to get the manta ray experience is to do a night time snorkel
when the rays come to the coral reefs to feed on plankton. Go out with
an experienced charter boat and crew that knows the best places to find
the rays. Ideally, it should be a spot that both the rays and snorkelers
frequent so the creatures are comfortable having humans around. The
best boats will have special lights to attract the rays and allow you to
get a good look at them. Hawaii is a great place to get close to these
magnificent creatures. Find a charter boat and crew on the Big Island that are experts in snorkeling with manta rays and prepare to enjoy a magical experience.
