I keep reading recently several items that mention mantas begin seen, including settling on the bottom and eating. Now, in my experience that is a stingray, usually southern type and definitely not a manta type activity. I hesitate to comment to people on this possible confusion but I wonder if any others are getting the same message from various posters to BT. Of course, I would like to know if or how often Manta Rays are sighted around Bonaire. I would expect on the east side if anywhere. Any ideas?

mantas are seen but not regularly...at least that's been our experience. we've never seen one there. we have seen numerous southern sting rays and spotted eagle rays, both swimming and grazing on the bottom but i've never seen a manta. and from what i've read, mantas are plankton feeders or at least feed while swimming so i wouldn't expect to see them on the bottom. i'm sure those who have seen mantas will have better info.

I saw a short video posted here on Bonaire talk of a manta off the La Dania's Leap - Karpata dive one time. The video convinced that they are seen off Bonaire from time to time. The Ray in the video was clearly a Manta.

My husband saw a manta on Bonaire some years ago, with a dive buddy. I was skeptical because they saw it on the bottom in the sand and it raised up and swam away. But he and his buddy insisted it was a manta and they have seen other types of rays often enough that I have believed them. I just did a search and apparently, if this hit can be believed, they do rest on the bottom as well.
http://ambergriscaye.com/reefbriefs/briefs41.html

"To reproduce, any season is mating season for these giants. When their pectoral fins reach approximately 13 to 15 feet, Manta ray's are sexually mature. Female rays give birth to one or two rays per litter, each one weighing up to 25 pounds at birth! Fortunately, these "pups," as baby Manta rays are called, do not face many predators. Rays learn to evade predators by spending much of their time on the sandy bottom, flapping their pectoral fins to throw sand on their body. Even as adults, Manta rays have few predators, such as the occasional shark or killer whale. On account of their lack of commercial value, fishermen tend to leave Manta rays alone, allowing the species to flourish."

Eric and I definitely saw one at The Rock. We saw it straight on, into its mouth, so there was no mistaking it. But it was small, maybe 5 feet across, and it would swoop down to the bottom, until I thought it was actually lightly sweeping the silty bottom.

I saw something called a Devil Ray listed in my book, and wondered if it might be that, but I don't know anything about them, and the dive shop didn't either.

Too bad Susan Porter isn't around...she could tell us!

Well, Susan Porter, myself and my husband DID see a manta yesterday diving together, and it was not on the bottom feeding, it was above us and came down to see us from above. Went right over us, I think we were down maybe 40 feet or so at the time. Maybe not even that deep.

It was my second encounter with a manta on Bonaire in over a 12 year period, my husband's first, and Susan's 7th. So, yes, they are seen on Bonaire.

Big difference between eagle, southern rays and mantas. The manta's have these two flappy things on each side of their face.

Oh, Susan, where are you?

Rub it in, Debbie-on-Bonaire...

hum...not jealous...not ...not

As per my earlier post, we saw one in March this year swimming under the Dock at Habitat. Devil Rays are Mobula usually about 3 feet or so across.

Aw, heck, not trying to do that, CB, just so darn happy that I got to see one, that's all. It was a rainy day, stuff floating in the water, perfect conditions for one to cruise by. We just happen to be in the right place at the right time. Mother Ocean sure smiled on us this trip.

Debbie, Where were you diving when you saw the Manta yesterday?
What other months did you see Mantas there? If you see Susan again, say "hi" from us.

My bet it is due to the white clouds in the water. When we were there in March, we had a wind reversal and lots of particulants in the water and sure enough a manta was seen.

There is some confusion on Manta Ray vs. Devil Ray and silly me thought there were the same. Here's a Manta Ray, here's a Devil Ray. They sure do look the same but are different species. It looks like the Devil Ray is quite a bit smaller.

Nice Cecil, Ours was definitely a manta, saw every inch of him up close and personal. Really made my trip it did. Still smiling over here on a rainy Bonaire today two days later.

debbie, where did you see it? please tell me the LBR reef.

Pat, nope, but south side for sure! Wish it was LBR reef, haven't dove it this trip, who knows, maybe one is out there waiting to be found!

If there is agreement that this is a manta ray then there are still some to see around Bonaire. As others have said rare. I have seen only 4 in last 7 years. This one was near Spelonk

There was one under the boat at Bari Reef last December. (yes, it was definitely a manta--everybody saw it, not just us.)

Sightings of mantas have been incredibly rare on Bonaire--but is it possible they will be less rare in future? Is there any chance that they could be moving in?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v==IEwc_SRuD10
They ain't manta's, they ain't eagles, they are........???

oeps made a mistake, sorry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEwc_SRuD10

Bart, outstanding :-)

Bart, Nice!

I've seen Manta Rays at Angel city, on several occasions. I surface swim to the buoy, dive to the left and look in the sandy area. Bas Noij was with me the first time--Hey Bas, how u doin ?

Awesome video!

I was also ask if I was sure we had spotted a Manta Ray.

http://www.vimeo.com/2344077

James,

Based on Cecil's post above it appears as though you saw a Devil Ray

Mike

I don't think so, what facts would you base that opinion on.

The ray on James' link is a manta birostris, which genus is known to comprise of two sub species. Mike and james are both right it is a manta often called a devil ray. you guys must be happy now :-)

As far as I know (and according to the Deloach books) a Manta Ray and a Devil Ray are two different (but similar looking) species. A Devil ray has its mouth underneath its body, the manta ray in front. I believe the video proves that is was a Manta Ray that you filmed but I am curious what others think.

Bill...I was indeed there when we saw the rays but I am sorry to disappoint you that it was not Manta Rays. I have personally never seen a Manta Ray (nor a Devil Ray for that matter) on Bonaire....sob sob. We saw Eagle Ray and Southern Stingray. Still pretty cool of course but not nearly as rare as Manta's.

BTW Bill...I am fine!! Looking forward to seeing you on your next trip over! We'll go out looking for Manta's for sure

My husband and I have seen two Manta Rays in Bonairean waters in the last six years; one at La Dania/Karpata and one at Vista Blue. They were definitely Mantas. On the La D - K dive we were with our OW instructor on one of our first post-certification dives - talk about beginner's luck!

Bas, trying to get things shaped up for a late July visit. The airfare what's holding the deal up--terrible, almost 300 $ more than last July. My Marine/ dive instructor, buddy is also planning the trip!

I'm not jealous Blue...I'M NOT!!!

Well....maybe I am

Sorry Bas!

debbie, you never said what site you were at. some place with a sandy bottom like invisibles or one with a rockier, coral bottom? inquiring minds want to know.

I've got to go with Manta Ray in the video. In the video there is a small vertical fin near the tail that I did not see this in the Atlantic Devil Ray. Regardless a great capture and I am seriously jealous.

A great discussion on mantas, devil rays and rays in general. Thanks to all for your input.

Dan, today we saw a manta. Four of us were diving at Daina's leap "SP", coming out of one of the caves " shallow hollows on the face of the wall" when we spotted the manta swimming by. We were at 154 ft deep, it went by us heading deeper.
This is my 2nd manta on Bonaire

154 feet is a tad deep. Is that correct or is it a typo?

Tech diver?? Re-breather??

Tom, you're correct. 154 feet is a tad deep, it was a quick bounce dive, most of the dive was spent up at about 40 to 45 feet.

I know this thread is a bit old but....

I saw a small Manta at 1000 steps this past June. I was staying at the Wannadive Hut and asked Bart about it that day. He said they are seen very rarely but are seen sometimes. He said I should consider myself very lucky to have seen one.

I went back to look at the video I took and am fairly certain it's a Manta and not an Atlantic Devil Ray.

Judge for yourself.

http://scubadivingtube.com/play.php?vid=709

The first Ray is a Southern Ray, and the second Ray is a Manta! good video... Ron

We saw an enormous Manta ray last year in March at Witch's Hut. It was about 10 or 12 feet across. So graceful and totally unafraid of us. Swam right up by us--close enough to look into its big eye. It was truly one of the most awesome things I have ever seen in my life.