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Scientific name: Mobula alfredi

Baiyungu name: Yambarra

Conversation Status: Globally - Vulnerable, Nationally - Migratory

Length (Max): 5m

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Join us for an unforgettable journey into the heart of the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park with our Coral Bay Exclusive tour. Operating between March and January each year, this all-inclusive experience offers the chance to encounter an incredible variety of marine life — from graceful Manta Rays and curious turtles to reef sharks, dolphins, dugongs, and vibrant coral gardens teeming with fish.

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Departing daily from Coral Bay, our tours are supported by a coach transfer from Exmouth, combining luxury and sustainability. With years of experience delivering world-class marine wildlife encounters, Ocean Eco Adventures is proud to offer a professional, friendly, and environmentally conscious experience that goes beyond expectations. Whether it’s your first snorkel or your hundredth, we’ll help you make the most of your time on the reef.

 

Dive into the captivating world of Manta rays, the gentle giants of the ocean realm! With their awe-inspiring size and graceful movements, swimming alongside these majestic creatures promises an unforgettable adventure. Manta rays, belonging to the genus Mobula, boast striking triangular pectoral fins that make them instantly recognizable as they glide effortlessly through the crystal-clear waters of warm temperate, subtropical, and tropical oceans worldwide.

 

Feeding primarily on plankton, these magnificent beings showcase a harmonious relationship with their environment, filtering tiny organisms through their wide mouths as they gracefully navigate the underwater world. Unlike their sting-bearing relatives, Manta Rays pose no threat to humans, inviting swimmers and divers into their realm with a sense of serenity and wonder.

 

Discover the intelligence and social behaviours of Manta Rays firsthand as you witness them congregating in Batemans Bay. However, amidst the beauty lies a stark reality: Manta rays face threats from overfishing, pollution, and habitat degradation, underscoring the urgency of conservation efforts to safeguard these mesmerizing creatures for generations to come..

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Did you know that the Manta Ray has the biggest brain to body size ratio of any bony fish in the world's oceans? They have been around for about 20 million years and while they are a ray that grows quite large they do not bear a stinger and they are one of the most gentle animals in the ocean, feeding off some of the world’s smallest animals in the form of plankton.

 

Plankton is a size class of organism, anything that is very small and can’t swim against the current is classed as plankton. Plankton itself can be divided up into two main groups - phytoplankton (the tiny plants) and zooplankton (the tiny animals). Zooplankton are a big part of the Manta Rays diet and they eat roughly 12% of their body weight per week which is roughly 54 kilograms. This is quite a large amount of plankton when 10,000 pieces of plankton weighs roughly 30 grams!

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Experience the enchantment of Coastal Manta Rays year-round at Batemans Bay, where these magnificent creatures grace the waters thanks to the unique dynamics of the outer reef. While Coastal Manta Rays populate the entirety of the Ningaloo Reef from May to November, Batemans Bay boasts a special allure as a permanent residence for these graceful beings.

 

Nestled along the outer reef, Batemans Bay features a distinctive gap that generates an eddy in the currents, creating a natural phenomenon. This eddy acts as a magnet, drawing plankton into the expansive sandy bay, a phenomenon typically associated only with the outer reef. This abundant food source sustains Batemans Bay's resident Manta Ray population throughout the year, offering visitors the extraordinary opportunity to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, regardless of the season.

 

Although Manta Rays can dive to depths of 300m, Manta Rays  can often be found on the surface by sighting their wings breaking the surface. They can also travel at about 3-5kms per hour but have bursts of speed of up to 35kms per hour.

 

Manta Rays live for roughly 50 years in the wild. Females usually become pregnant every two years and are pregnant for 12-13 months. They only bear one pup at a time which are fully independent from birth.

 

Individual Manta Rays are identified by their spot pattern (called ventral markings) found on their underside through photo identification. Each Manta Ray has a different spot pattern that is unique to them and stays the same throughout their life time, much like human fingerprints. You can be a part of the research by taking a photo of the underside of a Manta Ray and submitting to scientists and researchers such as Ningaloo Manta Project WA conducting photo ID research and help Manta Ray conservation. 

 

If you're not into photography don’t worry Ocean Eco Adventures photographers have got you covered. Not only do you get free photo’s of your entire Coral Bay Exclusive tour, We also submit our Manta Ray ID photos to Ningaloo Manta Project WA.

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Embark on a journey of discovery and conservation as you delve into the world of swimming with Manta rays, where every encounter leaves an indelible mark on the soul and inspires a deeper connection with the ocean's wonders