Swim with the manta rays of your dreams in Ishigaki Island! Introducing recommended manta seasons and spots!
Table of Contents
⬇︎Click here for a special feature on the popular manta ray tours of the sea☆.
Swimming gracefully in the blue sea
Let's go see the queen of the sea, the manta ray!
Ishigaki Island is a world-classHigh manta ray encounter rateIt is famous as a
The manta ray is the world's largest type of ray, measuring 4 to 6 meters in length, and is characterized by swimming in the ocean as if flapping its wings. Although they have huge bodies, they are actually very docile.
The official name of the manta rays that can be seen on Ishigaki Island is "Nanyo Manta". It is the largest manta ray in the world with a record of 6.8 meters in width and 2 tons in weight.
Also known as the queen of the sea, they are very popular with divers because of their curious and playful nature.
Manta City and Manta Scramble are located off Kabira in Ishigaki Island.manta pointand is world famous as "Kabira Manta Point".
Depending on the time of year, it is easy to see manta rays even if it is your first time snorkeling or diving!
High probability of encounter!
Popular☆See the list of Manta Tour in Ishigaki Island
When to see manta rays and what to bring
On Ishigaki Island, which boasts the world's highest encounter rate of manta rays, there is a point called Manta Scramble where manta rays can be viewed, located in the ocean near Kabira Bay on the northwest side of Ishigaki Island.
Therefore, in winter, the area is easily affected by northerly winds and it is often impossible to launch boats in the first place.
This is the time of year when the cold northerly winds of winter gradually change to warmer winds. In addition to manta rays, you can also see big fish.
◆June - September
During the year.The time when you have the highest probability of seeing manta rays.It is.
◆Oct-Nov.
It is the breeding season for manta rays, so there is a good chance of seeing 10 or more.
Recommended if you want to see many manta rays at once!
◆December through March
This is the time of year when the probability of getting to North Manta Point is low.
It is recommended to dive to the point instead of snorkeling!
When participating in a manta ray tour, please make sure that you have a priorwearing a bathing suitPlease come to the meeting place by
The equipment is included in the tour fee, so there is no need to prepare it, but you will need to bring your own towels, flip-flops, sunscreen, etc.
High probability of encounter!
Popular☆See the list of Manta Tour in Ishigaki Island
Let's go see manta rays in Ishigaki Island!
Introduction of activities to encounter manta rays
snorkeling
Ishigaki Island is one of the best diving spots in the world to see manta rays, but in factYou can easily go snorkeling to see manta rays!Oh my god!!!
This is an impressive tour where you can see giant manta rays swimming peacefully while floating on the surface of the ocean.
There are also set plans that take you to Manta Point and uninhabited islands such as Phantom Island, so find the plan that best suits you and join it.
↓Click here for Manta Ray Snorkeling Tour
Experience Diving
If you want to see manta rays, I still recommend experience diving, which can be done for the first time!
Watch world-class giant manta rays swim peacefully in the emerald green waters around Ishigaki Island, right in front of your eyes.
Experience diving allows you to get even closer to manta rays than snorkeling, and to view them from various angles.
↓Click here for Manta Diving Tours
5 Manta Spots on Ishigaki Island
Ishigaki Island has some of the best spots in Japan to encounter manta rays.
Also, if you change the spot, you can encounter manta rays in all seasons.
We will introduce the manta ray spots near Ishigaki Island that are gracefully migrating in the sea, called the queens of the sea.
High probability of encounter!
Popular☆See the list of Manta Tour in Ishigaki Island
(1) Mantas scramble
Manta Scramble is a manta ray spot in the Kabira area, and is recommended for beginners as there is little tidal current and the maximum depth is not very deep, about 15 meters.
It is so popular that the manta spot in Ishigaki Island is called Manta Scramble.
There are many roots that serve as cleaning stations for manta rays, stretching approximately 600 meters from east to west and 200 meters from north to south.
While they can be found in greatest numbers during the summer months, during the breeding season in September and October, multiple male manta rays can be seen chasing around a female manta ray.
(2) Manta City
The next manta spot we will introduce is Manta City.
Manta City is a new, recently identified manta ray spot located not far from Manta Scramble.
Like the Manta Scramble, there is little tidal current and the maximum depth is approximately 20 meters.
Due to the large number of divers visiting the spot, the number of boats allowed to dock at the spot is limited to five in order to reduce congestion and protect manta rays.
During the hot season, you can see many boats waiting for their turn.
The cleaning station here is relatively shallow at 7 to 9 meters deep, so beginners can wait for manta rays to come to the cleaning station.
Manta City is located 400m west of the Kabira-Shizaki Manta Scramble, so you can visit it as well.
(3) Yonara Channel (Iriomote Island, Kohama Island)
The next manta ray spot we will introduce is Yonara Channel.
Yonara Channel is located just between Iriomote Island and Kohama Island, and has a very high encounter rate with manta rays.
It is known as the original manta ray spot because it has been able to encounter manta rays for longer than other spots.
In addition to manta rays, you can also encounter black manta rays, schools of mudfish, longnose hawksbill sharks, sea turtles, and migratory fish such as dogtooth tuna.
However, the cleaning station is 26 meters deep, with a maximum depth of 30 meters, and the current is very fast, so divers with an advanced diver's license or higher are required to dive.
The bottom of the sea is pure white sand and very beautiful.
The depths you can dive vary depending on your license, so be sure to dive according to your own appropriateness.
(4) Panari Big Corner (Aragusuku Island, Kuroshima)
Panari Big Corner is a manta ray spot located in the southern part of Aragusuku (Panari) Island, near Kuroshima.
This is a new manta ray spot that has been gaining attention in recent years as manta rays have become known to visit the area.
There is the sound of mangos in the white sand, and the cleaning stations are between 5 and 10 meters, making this a challenging place for beginners.
In addition to manta rays, this is also a spot where you can see large marine fish such as sharks and isomargin tuna.
Basically, the sea is calm, but be careful in winter when it is susceptible to northerly winds and the tides are faster.
(5) Kuroshima V (Kuroshima)
Kuroshima V is, as the name suggests, a manta ray spot in the Kuroshima area.
The topography of this spot is a bit unusual, with a powerful drop-off and a rough V-shaped cut.
The tidal currents are reasonably fast and the terrain is dynamic, making this a good spot for experienced divers.
Manta rays can be seen with high probability, and schools of dogtooth tuna, napoleons, butterflyfish, and bear claws can also be seen.
The high diversity of living creatures makes this a good spot for biological observation.
High probability of encounter!
Popular☆See the list of Manta Tour in Ishigaki Island
summary
The waters around Ishigaki Island are famous for giant manta rays, but you can also experience an underwater world of sea turtles, colorful corals, and large tropical fish that you cannot find anywhere else.
Please be sure to admire the manta rays, of course, but also other sea creatures.
