Majestic Manta Ray
Every year manta rays arrive to swim in the crystal clear waters around Constance Moofushi. This season, they arrived on 21 December and will stay until the end of April.
Guests at Moofushi can experience swimming alongside these incredible creatures. The Blue Tribe Diving Centre organises snorkelling trips at 3.30pm every day for guests.
Enjoy these amazing photos and facts about mantas, sent from our wonderful dive masters at Moofushi.
1. Manta Rays can be found throughout tropical waters across the world where they often congregate around coral reefs.
Manta Ray and fish in crystal clear waters
2. It’s estimated there are around 10,000 Manta Rays living in the Maldives.
3. Manta Rays are extremely peaceful creatures and pose no threat to scuba divers. They display curiosity towards humans and enjoy swimming among scuba divers.
4. Manta rays are easily found at various ‘cleaning stations’ around the Maldives, where they gather near the coral reef and small fish pass through their gills, feeding off dead tissue and parasites and cleaning the manta in the process. It’s not uncommon to see groups of up to 150 Manta Rays at a cleaning station at one time.
Close up with a Maldivian Manta Ray
5. When divers witness a gathering at a cleaning station, they should keep their distance and remain quiet, so as not to startle the manta rays, who will leave if disturbed.