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Fiji Manta Rays

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Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji's location is unique, only a 1-minute boat ride from a Manta Ray feeding site. From April - October Fiji Manta Rays feed in a narrow nutrient-rich channel of water between Drawaqua Island (Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji's location) and Naviti Island. With nature there are no guarantees but the Manta Rays are usually there every day during the season. 

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It's an unforgettable must-do experience. Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji offers a Snorkelling with Fiji Manta Rays Experience when the Fiji Manta Rays swim in the channel. When staying at the resort you hear the lali (ceremonial drum) being beaten and calls of  'Manta Rays, Manta Rays', you'll know in minutes you can be up close and personal with these majestic creatures of the sea.

Snorkelling with Fiji Manta Rays!
Lalai traditional Fijian drum used to announce Fiji Manta Rays visiting waters near Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji.

Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji's Swimming with Fiji Manta Rays Experience operates with a focus on personal safety and the welfare of Manta Rays. Manta Rays have no barb and no teeth, so they provide no threat when snorkelling with them. The experience is conducted by trained staff with snorkelling equipment and floatation devices provided for less confident swimmers. Our Marine Conservation Centre plays an active role in tour operations, ensuring they do not impact on the natural behaviour of these majestic giants of the sea.

Snorkelling with Fiji Manta Rays at Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji.
Fiji Manta Ray barrel rolling with snorkellers looking on at Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji.

How good is snorkelling with Fiji Manta Rays? Here's what our guests said on

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'… the most exhilarating experience was snorkelling with the most gracious black manta rays only a short distance from the resort. If you do nothing else in your life, get to this resort to get up close to these most magnificent specimens.'
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Fiji Manta Rays feeding in the narrow channel of water between Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji and
Fiji Manta Rays feeding in the narrow channel of water between Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji and

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A barrel rolling Fiji Manta Ray in the waters surrounding Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji.
A barrel rolling Fiji Manta Ray in the waters surrounding Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji.

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Fiji Manta Ray with a wing span of over 4 metres located at Barefoot Manta Island Resort.
Fiji Manta Ray with a wing span of over 4 metres located at Barefoot Manta Island Resort.

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Fiji Manta Rays feeding in the narrow channel of water between Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji and
Fiji Manta Rays feeding in the narrow channel of water between Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji and

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Fiji Manta Rays & the Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji Marine Conservation Centre

The main defining feature of Manta Rays are their cephalic fins. These modified fins are on either side of the mouth and are used to funnel the plankton straight into their mouth more efficiently.

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When the mantas are finished feeding, they move their cephalic fins to point straight forward while swimming to reduce drag. It's a behaviour your likely to see during your Snorkelling with Manta Rays Experience. They have the largest brains and brain to body ratio of all fish.

Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji's Marine Conservation Centre has been collecting data on the local Manta Ray population since 2013 and have conducted more Manta Ray surveys than any other operator in Fiji. So far we have identified over 115 different individuals visiting Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji waters.

Duck a Fiji Manta Ray that regularly visits the waters of Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji.
Duck a Fiji Manta Ray that regularly visits the waters of Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji.

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Darius a Fiji Manta Rays that regularly visits the waters of Barefoot Manta Island Resort.
Darius a Fiji Manta Rays that regularly visits the waters of Barefoot Manta Island Resort.

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Ember a Fiji Manta Ray displaying unique pattern on it's belly used to identify Fiji Manta Rays for
Ember a Fiji Manta Ray displaying unique pattern on it's belly used to identify Fiji Manta Rays for

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Duck a Fiji Manta Ray that regularly visits the waters of Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji.
Duck a Fiji Manta Ray that regularly visits the waters of Barefoot Manta Island Resort Fiji.

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Manta Rays are large rays belonging to the genus Mobula. The more popular species encountered in Fiji mobula alfredi reach 5.5 m (18 ft) in width but there have been recent reports of the larger species mobula birostris, reaching 7 m (23 ft) in width, found in Fiji waters.  Both have triangular pectoral fins, horn-shaped cephalic fins and large, forward-facing mouths.

Manta Rays are identified by the colours and unique patterns of their belly, similar to how a human fingerprint differentiates between humans. Come and meet Ember, Darius, Duck and our other regular visitors.
 

Meet the locals