(We’ll find out more about the giant oceanic manta ray’s diet further down the page.) Giant Oceanic Manta Ray Video Its diet consists of some of the smallest undersea organisms. Like many of the largest ocean animals, the giant oceanic manta ray is a filter feeder. (Want to know more about terms such as ‘class’ and how animals are classified? Check out this page: Animal Classification.) The giant oceanic manta ray is closely related to the reef manta ray ( Manta alfredi). Instead of bone, the skeletons of fishes in this group are made of a flexible material called cartilage. Both are members of the class Chondrichthyes, otherwise known as the cartilaginous fishes. There are anecdotal reports of specimens measuring a whopping 9.1m (30ft) across! Particularly large individuals can be over 7m (23ft) in width. The giant oceanic manta ray is the world’s largest species of ray. Meet The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray: Introduction Other interesting giant oceanic manta ray facts: The giant oceanic manta ray has the largest brain of any fish.Where Found: Tropical, sub-tropical and temperate waters around the world.Other Name(s): Giant manta ray, chevron manta ray, oceanic manta ray, Pacific manta ray, pelagic manta ray.This huge fish can reach weights of over 1 tonne! Let’s discover more about this amazing species … Looking like a bizarre alien spaceship as it swims through the water, the giant oceanic manta ray is the world’s largest ray.
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GIANT MANTA RAY FULL
Only a hand full of dive centers offer trips to Isla de la Plata so pre-booking is essential.Giant oceanic manta ray facts, pictures, video and in-depth information. During this time visibility can be as good as 82 feet (25 m). The air temperature is usually warmer than in the dry season and rain showers often only occur in the afternoon. During this time visibility can be as low as 10 to 16 feet (3 to 5 m).ĭuring the wet season, between January and June, water temperatures are between 68 to 82 F (20 to 28 C). July to October can get windy, making for rougher seas and poorer visibility. During this time the air temperature can be slightly cooler, and the weather overcast. The dry season is between June and December with water temperatures between 61 to 73 F (16 and 23 C). Isla de la Plata is also a breeding ground for blacktip sharks and there’s abundant macro fauna, such as nudibranchs, as well. And to top it off, there might even be a chance to see a mola mola. Whale sharks are also in the area around the same time, with peak season falling between June and November.
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Between 500 and 2,500 humpback whales come to the area during this time to mate and give birth as well. The best time to see giant manta rays in Isla de la Plata is between late July and early October.
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While reef mantas are residents of the area, giant mantas travel to Ecuador to mate, feed and clean. The Humboldt Current brings nutrient-rich water to the area and creates the perfect conditions for manta ray feeding. The manta rays are friendly and inquisitive and often spend 10 to 15 minutes with divers, even following them up to their safety stops.Ĭurrents around Isla de la Plata can get very strong, making it best suited for advanced divers with experience diving in currents. During peak manta ray season between 50 and 600 individual giant manta rays, each growing up to 23 feet (7 m) wide, have been documented at Isla de la Plata.Ī one-hour boat ride from Puerto Lopez takes divers to this amazing site. Isla de la Plata’s standout feature is that it hosts the largest seasonal aggregation of giant manta rays in the world. Isla de la Plata is only 25 miles (40 km) off the central coast of Ecuador, making it ideal for those limited on either time or money but who still want to experience excellent diving in Ecuador. While overfishing in Isla De la Plata means that there is less marine life around than the Galapagos, the area recently became a no-take fishing zone and thusly marine life is predicted to increase. Along that coastline, Isla de la Plata (also known as “the poor man’s Galapagos”) has an allure all its own. Diving with giant manta rays in Ecuador is possible not only in the Galapagos, but also nearer to the coastline, which stretches for over 1,400 miles (2,300 km).