![]() ![]() In the early ’70s, when the former Kona Surf Hotel opened, the resort illuminated the surf zone with bright floodlights. How did the first manta ray viewing site start? To keep manta ray ecotourism on the island safe and sustainable, commercial activity providers have agreed on tour operator standards. Although the sites are within 100 yards from shore, due to the rocky volcanic coastline they are only accessible by boat, which makes it safe for divers and snorkelers to come and experience the magic of manta rays first-hand. At these locations, you have a 70+ % chance to see at least one manta ray during the manta ray dive and snorkel adventure. Did you know swimming this activity has been named one of the top-10 aquatic attractions in the world? What are Manta Ray Viewing Sites?Īlong the West Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, we’ve got three established viewing sites for manta rays. Travelers from around the globe visit Kona on the Big Island to swim and dive with manta rays. Not only is this region notable for the presence of so many manta rays, but it has also been recently identified as the first known manta nursery.Manta rays are truly remarkable and beautiful creatures, and Hawaii is one of the few places in the world where you can be an arm’s length away from manta rays. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, in particular, hosts a number of manta rays that feed off of the extensive phytoplankton found in the deeper waters alongside the underwater banks. These listings along with regulations, education, and the creation of protected areas are helping to protect the manta rays and their habitats from continued threats. These practices threaten the widely distributed and slow-growing species which has led to its listing as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Unfortunately, they are fished predominantly for their gill rakers and are often victims of bycatch in other commercial fishing efforts. Their graceful movements through the water and approachability make elusive manta rays highly attractive to divers when they can actually be found. across their wingspans making them one of the largest animals in the ocean. Manta rays can reach an impressive 25 ft. ![]() Stingrays have a mouth on the underside of their bodies that is strong enough to crush clams and crustaceans that they find along the bottom of the ocean in coastal waters. This feeding method is ideal for manta rays as they spend their time in coastal and pelagic waters where they can swim through the water column collecting tiny marine organisms. Manta rays have a wide mouth found at the front edge of their bodies with cephalic lobes (specialized, flap-like appendages) on either side that help funnel plankton and other small organisms into their mouths for filter feeding. ![]() Manta rays do not have the infamous barb found on their tails, while stingrays utilize the barb as a defense mechanism. ![]() MorphologyĪlthough they are related, stingrays and manta rays still have several differences. They also have similar tail-like appendages. Manta rays and stingrays have large, flat body shapes are very similar with heads fused directly to wide pectoral fins used for propulsion. These species are related due to their cartilaginous (the material in our noses and ears) skeletons. Manta rays and stingrays are both members of the Chondrichthyes class, which also includes species like sharks. ![]()
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