Reef Manta Ray

The reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) is a species in the family Mobulidae and is among the largest rays in the world. It is generally 3 to 3.5 m (9.8 to 11.5 ft) in disc width, with a maximum recorded size of about 5.5 m (18 ft). The species was first described in 1868 by Gerard Krefft and was named in honor of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh. Historically placed in the genus Manta, the species (along with other mantas) was reassigned to the genus Mobula in 2017. The reef manta ray is widely distributed through the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific, with a few records from the tropical East Atlantic; there are no records from the West Atlantic or East Pacific. Compared with the giant oceanic manta ray, the reef manta ray tends to occur in shallower, more coastal habitats, and local migrations have been reported. Mobula birostris (the giant oceanic manta ray) is similar in appearance and their distributions can overlap, so the two species may be confused.

The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as Lady Elliot Island, Puerto Princesa + Tubbataha Gateway (Palawan), Nusa Penida and countries such as Australia, Indonesia, Maldives for divers building trips around reef manta rays.