Manta rays are beautiful and majestic animals that have a life-changing effect on people who meet them. I want to protect them so humans can experience their transformational power for generations to come! My goal is to inspire people so they take action to protect the mantas' ecosystem and oceans all around the world.
Unravelling the mysteries of the manta rays
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Manta rays are still mysterious creatures simply because we still know so little about them. Today, I am happy to share a bunch of reading material we've gathered over time to shine a brighter light on the gentle giants—so buckle up. 😊 Here is the beautiful part: humans have increasingly spent time observing and collecting data on manta appearance and behavior, giving us a chance to learn more about them. As recent as July 2025, the discovery (or rather, recognition) of a third species of manta ray is a good example. It is fascinating to learn that mantas are technically cold-blooded but can warm parts of their bodies to help them swim and potentially even think faster. Did you know that a manta's skin is slimy on the surface due to a mucus coating, but its body is covered with tiny teeth underneath? This helps mantas move fast and execute intricate swimming techniques while spending minimal energy. We had a blast discovering how scientists research manta swimming mechanisms, writing about the technologies used to track manta rays, and diving deeper into the movements and migratory patterns of reef mantas. All of these discoveries also meant that we desperately needed an update on what we thought we knew about mantas, so check out our brand new article about the anatomy of manta rays. Many more steps need to be taken to protect the gentle giants, and one of these is to learn everything we can about them. We know they're essential to underwater ecosystems and coral reefs worldwide. Mantas inspire engineers, medical scientists, artists, and designers every day. Still, manta rays are among the many creatures affected by human activity, and we should all take action now to mitigate the damage to our planet; if not for ourselves, then for our children and future generations. Please share this information with friends, family members, and anyone who will listen.
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Martina Wing
Manta rays are beautiful and majestic animals that have a life-changing effect on people who meet them. I want to protect them so humans can experience their transformational power for generations to come! My goal is to inspire people so they take action to protect the mantas' ecosystem and oceans all around the world.
Aloha Reader, When someone suggested interviewing Manta Ray Advocates team members for my podcast, I didn't know what the conversation should be about: we talk and text almost every day, what else is there to say? Turns out my right hand, Savannah, has a whole lot of stories about what it's like to work here :) In this new episode of the Ocean Wings podcast, we dive into topics like collecting data on the manta rays we encounter, handling customer communication and operations, and briefing...
Aloha Reader, Chris Gorman lives in Nebraska - America's most landlocked state. So when he and his wife travel to the ocean, they make it count. Chris does what he calls "serial research" - diving into reviews, looking for operators who align with their values, and planning experiences that will stick with them long after they get home. In this week's episode, Chris shares how he chooses responsible travel experiences, why he looks beyond star ratings when reading reviews, and what made their...
Aloha Reader, During the briefing before we take guests to meet manta rays in the ocean, we'd often explain how the manta rays aren't there to perform for us - they're just living their lives, and we're lucky to witness it. Last April during that briefing, one of the guests lit up: "I just wrote a paper about this." The guest was called Rowan Daugherty, and her paper "Putting the Phone Down: the Negative Impact of Technology on Nature". It explores something I've been trying to communicate...