If you are planning a vacation that includes snorkeling, you may want to consider taking a tour versus going alone. Tour services usually provide you with all the equipment you'll need, and you don't have to waste time searching for sea life since guides usually know where the best spots are. If you want a unique snorkeling experience, you may want to try a manta ray snorkel tour. Read on to find answers to your questions about these tours.

Are Manta Ray Snorkel Tours Safe?

Manta rays can be intimidating because of their size. They are sometimes confused for stingrays, which is why some people may think that they are unsafe to be around. While manta rays and stingrays look similar and belong to the order Myliobatiformes, they have some key differences. Manta rays do not have spines or barbs on their tail, which makes them fairly harmless to humans.

Also, while sting rays have small teeth to crush the shells of clams and crabs, manta rays are filter feeders. Filter feeders have non-functional teeth and their "horns" are actually cephalic lobes that help to direct plankton into their mouth. Lastly, manta rays are gentle and curious; they do not have aggressive, predatory natures.

Is it Okay to Touch the Manta Rays While You Snorkel?

Because manta rays are safe to be around and may come close to snorkelers, some people may think that it's okay to touch these creatures. However, one should not touch these creatures during a snorkel tour. Manta rays, like other fish, have a protective mucus coating on their body. If snorkelers try to touch this mucus layer, they could actually compromise the animal's immune system.

Where are Tours Held?

Hawaii is a popular spot for manta ray tours, especially around the Kona coast of the Big Island. However, if you want to go outside the U.S., DIVE magazine outlines plenty of places to see manta rays, such as Indonesia, Maldives, the Galapagos Islands, Australia, Japan, and Mexico.

Why are Tours Typically at Night?

Snorkeling tours use lights to help visitors navigate the waters, and the plankton are attracted to the lights. Manta rays, in turn, are attracted to the plankton since it's their primary food source. You can see manta rays during the day, but night tours are usually a better bet since the tour guides can use lights to bring mantas to shallower bays.  

What Safety Procedures Should You Be Aware of During These Tours?

Every tour is different, but they should give you a safety debrief before taking you out on the waters. Since navigation is a little more difficult at night, the tour service will show you how to properly signal your light above water, and they will set you up with a whistle so that you can get aid should you get separated from the group. The tour service will outline points of reference, like certain boats and lights from the resort, so that you can orient yourself while snorkeling. To learn more about manta ray snorkeling tours, reach out to an entertainment and recreation service in your area today.

For more information on manta ray snorkel tours, contact a company near you.