Reef Manta Ray

Photo: lichenguy · CC BY-NC

Reef manta rays aggregate at Drawaqa Passage from November through May when trade-wind-driven upwellings push dense zooplankton patches into the channel, triggering feeding frenzies where rays barrel-roll through the surface layer with open mouths. Individual mantas identified by belly spot patterns have been photo-catalogued at this site by marine researchers, revealing that some individuals are residents of the Yasawa channel system while others are transient visitors from wider Fijian waters. The cleaning station aspect of the site operates year-round as small cleaner wrasse stations persist on the channel's coral heads even outside peak manta season.