Top 20 most popular coastal towns for swimming with rays in the world

Swimming with rays, particularly majestic manta rays and stingrays, is a thrilling experience offered by many coastal towns worldwide. These graceful creatures are often found in warm, clear waters, allowing for close encounters while snorkeling or diving. Here are the top 20 most popular beach towns for swimming with rays:

1. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (Stingray City)

• One of the most famous spots in the world for swimming with southern stingrays.
• Stingray City is a shallow sandbar where you can stand and interact with dozens of friendly rays in the crystal-clear Caribbean waters.

2. Manta Point, Bali, Indonesia

• Off the coast of Nusa Penida island, Manta Point is a renowned dive spot for swimming with giant manta rays.
• These gentle giants are frequently seen gliding through the waters, offering an unforgettable experience for divers and snorkelers.

3. Baa Atoll, Maldives

• A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll is famous for manta ray gatherings, especially during plankton season (May-November).
• Snorkeling here allows you to swim with dozens of manta rays in their natural environment.

4. Moorea, French Polynesia

• Moorea, located near Tahiti, is known for its stingray and shark feeding tours.
• You can swim with large, friendly rays in shallow, crystal-clear lagoons.

5. Rangiroa, French Polynesia

• One of the world’s largest atolls, Rangiroa is famous for its encounters with manta rays and eagle rays.
• Snorkelers and divers can swim with these rays in the lagoon’s clear blue waters.

6. Hamata, Egypt (Red Sea)

• The Red Sea is famous for its rich marine life, including eagle rays and stingrays.
• Hamata’s Fury Shoal reef system offers excellent diving and snorkeling experiences with various species of rays.

7. Big Island, Hawaii, USA (Kona Coast)

• Off the Kona Coast, you can experience nighttime snorkeling or diving with giant manta rays.
• The rays are drawn to the plankton attracted by lights, creating a surreal, glowing underwater experience.

8. Maldives (Ari Atoll)

• The Maldives is a top destination for encountering rays, especially manta rays.
• Ari Atoll is a prime location for swimming with manta rays in the clear waters of the Indian Ocean.

9. Holbox Island, Mexico

• Known for whale shark tours, Holbox also offers opportunities to swim with rays, including eagle rays, in the turquoise waters of the Yucatán Peninsula.

10. Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

• This protected archipelago is a prime spot for snorkeling and diving with both manta rays and stingrays in one of the most pristine marine environments in the world.

11. Exmouth, Australia (Ningaloo Reef)

• Ningaloo Reef is one of the best places in Australia for swimming with rays, including manta rays, particularly during the migration season.
• Snorkeling or diving at Coral Bay or Turquoise Bay offers close encounters with these gentle giants.

12. Ambergris Caye, Belize

• The Hol Chan Marine Reserve near Ambergris Caye is famous for encounters with southern stingrays and eagle rays.
• Snorkeling tours take you to clear, shallow waters where rays glide gracefully alongside you.

13. Riviera Maya, Mexico (Isla Contoy)

• Isla Contoy, off the coast of the Riviera Maya, offers snorkeling tours where you can swim with stingrays and spotted eagle rays in protected waters.

14. La Paz, Mexico (Baja California Sur)

• The waters off La Paz are known for their abundant marine life, including encounters with giant manta rays and mobula rays, particularly during migration season.

15. Tulum, Mexico

• The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef near Tulum offers chances to swim with eagle rays and southern stingrays in its clear, warm waters.
• Snorkeling tours often include encounters with rays near the coral reefs.

16. Stingray Bay, Bora Bora, French Polynesia

• This picturesque lagoon in Bora Bora offers shallow water encounters with stingrays.
• The rays are used to human interaction, making for a friendly and safe snorkeling experience.

17. Ocho Rios, Jamaica

• The Stingray City Jamaica offers visitors the chance to swim with southern stingrays in shallow waters just off the coast of Ocho Rios.

18. San Pedro, Belize

• Shark Ray Alley near San Pedro is a famous snorkeling spot where you can swim with nurse sharks and stingrays in the warm Caribbean waters.

19. Lady Elliot Island, Australia

• Part of the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliot Island is known for its healthy population of manta rays, making it one of the best places in Australia to swim with rays.

20. South Ari Atoll, Maldives

• South Ari Atoll is another top location in the Maldives for encountering manta rays, especially during the feeding season, when large groups gather.

These beach towns offer incredible opportunities to swim with rays, from gentle stingrays to massive manta rays, in some of the world’s most beautiful and biodiverse marine environments. Whether you’re a snorkeler or a diver, these destinations promise unforgettable encounters with these graceful creatures.