Swimming with Manta Rays.

The Yasawa Islands

Between roughly May and October, giant reef manta rays gather to feed in the channels of the Yasawa Islands, and snorkeling alongside these gentle giants is one of Fiji's most thrilling wildlife encounters. With wingspans reaching ten feet or more, the mantas glide and barrel-roll through the current as they filter plankton, utterly unbothered by the snorkelers above.

The hotspot is the channel near Drawaqa and the Naviti area, where resorts post a spotter and sound the call when the mantas appear, and you slip into the water to drift over them. There is no diving involved and no certification needed, just a mask, fins and a willingness to share the sea for a while.

It is humbling, graceful and unforgettable, a chance to share the sea with one of the ocean's most magnificent creatures. We love folding a manta encounter into a wider Yasawa trip, timing your island stay to put you on hand when the season is in full swing.

Where: The Yasawa channels (Drawaqa & Naviti)
Best time: Manta season roughly May–Oct
Good for: Wildlife & snorkeling
Pair it with: Island-hopping or an island resort

Where it is

On the map.

The mantas gather in the channels near Drawaqa and Naviti in the southern Yasawas during the season.

Scroll or pinch to zoom

What you'll see

On the route.

Stop 01

A manta ray gliding

A giant reef manta glides through the blue with wings spread wide, banking on the current like a great underwater bird. Up close, their size and grace are simply mesmerizing.

Stop 02

Drifting above a manta

Float at the surface with mask and fins and watch a manta pass just beneath you, unhurried and unbothered. It is a snorkel rather than a dive, so no certification is needed.

Stop 03

A ray over the channel floor

A ray sweeps low over the sandy channel floor as the current carries the plankton it feeds on. In season the channels near Drawaqa come alive with movement.

Stop 04

The clear channel

The water between the islands runs astonishingly clear, palm-backed and turquoise, the kind of place where you scan the blue and wait for a dark shape to appear.

Know before you go

The practical details.

Good to know

The season & how it works

Manta rays gather to feed in the Yasawa channels roughly from May to October, when the currents bring plankton. Resorts in the area station a spotter and sound a call when the mantas arrive, so you board a boat and snorkel out to drift over them. It is a snorkel rather than a dive, so no certification is needed.

Good to know

What to expect

These are wild animals and sightings are never guaranteed, but during the season the odds are excellent. You may share the channel with several mantas at once; keep a respectful distance, do not touch them, and let them come to you.

Good to know

Choosing a base

The manta channels lie in the southern Yasawas near Drawaqa Island. Stay at one of the nearby island resorts to be on hand when the call comes, and combine it with island-hopping, snorkeling and time on the beach.

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Swimming with Manta Rays.

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