Oceanic Manta Ray

Photo: Programa Marino del Golfo de California · CC BY-NC

Oceanic mantas pass through the currents off Tutuba Island filtering massive quantities of zooplankton through their cephalic fins, playing a vital role in transferring energy between the open ocean and reef ecosystems as their waste fertilizes coral reef organisms. With a wingspan reaching 7 meters, they are the ocean's largest rays, and their intelligence and curious interactions with divers make encounters profoundly memorable.