Where to See Manta Rays in Aquariums

“Have you ever seen a manta ray before?” is one of the first questions we ask guests who join us for a moonlight swim with manta rays.

Most often, the answer is YES. People believe they saw a manta in aquariums worldwide: “at Sea World,” “in the Maui Aquarium,” “at Monterey Bay,” or “on TV :).”

With many rays in the ocean, such as the spotted eagle ray, bat ray, mobula ray, devil ray, or butterfly ray, most guests are surprised to learn that they have not actually seen a manta ray in person; they’re mistaking mantas with other types of rays.

Smaller species of rays (like the cownose ray or stingray) are commonplace in aquariums worldwide, but manta rays are rarely found in captivity.

So this topic ties into an interesting question from Andre, a long-time manta enthusiast from Brazil:

What do you think about this manta ray in the Atlantis aquarium?

We had met in Hawaii a few years back and he was curious about my thoughts about captive programs (i.e. aquariums) of manta rays.

Researching the answer led me to several resources, which I am sharing today for your reference. Later, we will also circle back to Andre and his inquiry.

Five Aquariums Worldwide to See Manta Rays

We know of five places around the globe that have mantas in huge aquariums:

1. Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, GA, USA
2. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Okinawa, Japan
3. S.E.A Aquarium in Singapore
4. Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island Bahamas – If you plan to visit this aquarium to see manta rays, it’s a good idea to check in advance whether they will have any on display during your visit. The resort participates in a notable release and research program, where they tag and release manta rays back into the ocean to study their migratory patterns and behavior.
5. Nausicaa in Boulogne-sur-mer, France

These aquariums are GIGANTIC (several million gallons), and not too long ago, I had a chance to go backstage in Georgia to see how the mantas were being fed.

Mantas can never stop swimming and always have to keep moving forward: they’re filter feeders who eat as they swim. Feeding plankton to a filter feeder is very challenging. The feeding process feels unnatural, but it seems to work in Georgia, where the mantas have been the same for several years.

Maintaining huge tanks is logistically difficult, so only a few places worldwide are adequate to keep mantas captive.

This is good news because only a few gentle giants are stuck inside and swim in circles all day. In comparison, many smaller rays (stingrays, cownose rays, bat rays) are held in countless aquariums.

No studies have been done to determine if manta rays in aquariums are in good health or suffer any ill effects due to the confinement.

I was delighted that the Atlantis Resort has successfully released several mantas into the wild. The latest transfer of “Leyley” in a helicopter took 105 seconds from lift-off to the ocean; it is quite a spectacular sight!

Why Marine Mammals Can’t Thrive in Tanks…

According to some researchers, there is a fundamental incompatibility between what cetaceans (marine mammals) need to thrive and what they are afforded in tanks.

For example, bottlenose dolphins breed readily in captivity and do ok in (good) captive environments. On the other hand, belugas whales don’t breed well in captivity. After the release of the documentary “Black Fish” a very big spotlight was pointed at killer whales in aquariums and the detrimental effects of captivity.

In fact, twenty-two years ago, I volunteered with a research project that explored dolphin intelligence. I was saddened to see very small tanks for the four resident dolphins that had been held for over 15 years.

I often wonder about the need for ongoing research on dolphins in captivity and ask myself:

1. How many more questions need to be answered?
2. Is the research more of a cover-up for the entertainment of our species?

… But Manta Rays are Fish, not Mammals

Do the same concerns apply?

While I don’t believe whales and dolphins belong in captivity, aquariums are necessary for educational purposes and conservation at large. They can educate people who don’t have access to the ocean.

It’s one thing to watch videos about manta rays or to read facts about them, but actually seeing manta rays in person does increase your awareness of the species tremendously. Statistically, very few people ever experience mantas in the wild.

But once you do, I assure you it will elevate your awareness and open your heart to protecting and advocating for them!