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Last updated on November 10, 2023
Manta Bay is not really a “bay” but a specific stretch of ocean. This area faces high cliffs and is called Manta Bay because it is frequently visited by manta rays.
The ocean here is choppy and the waves can be rough. Unfortunately, it is not always safe enough for your boat to drop you off here.
If the conditions are good, it is likely that you will spot a huge ray even before entering the water, so have your gear ready and be prepared to jump at the right time!
This location can be reached with boat tours. Because of its popularity, this spot sees an increasing number of visitors and you have to be careful of the provider you choose for your snorkeling tour.
Many tours offer the possibility to “touch the mantas.” Environmental impact awareness is still limited here and some tour operators are driven by the prospect of profits.
Please be mindful and choose a provider that discourages this behavior. Wildlife is best appreciated when it remains wild and you should not interact with them.
The water entrance is from your boat and your tour guide will tell you when and where to jump. We suggest grabbing a life vest if you are not a good swimmer as the sea can be very rough.
Powerful waves crashing against an eroding cliff leave little room for a coral reef to flourish, so you should not expect to see any majestic corals here.
The odds to spot the mantas are in your favor, and are locally calculated to be around 80% during the peak season. However, even in the off season, the probability of seeing the mantas is high during the whole year.
The most common manta ray size you are likely to see is about 5 to 8 feet but giant rays of 22+ feet have sometimes been spotted too.
The seabed is of no interest other than scattered stones and the occasional school of fish patrolling the area. It is the presence of these schools that make this spot so important and attractive for the manta rays which frequently visit the area to feed.
Day tours usually include lunch.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
