Several giant manta rays were spotted by divers and swimmers in the Eilat Bay last week, their arrival likely due to the availability of food in the region, highlighting the importance of preserving the ecosystem in the bay for rare species.
These visits, considered relatively rare to the region, excite both nature enthusiasts and the scientific community.
Every manta ray has a unique spot pattern on its belly, which functions like a fingerprint or barcode, allowing each one to be recognized individually. Based on this, the "Sharks in Israel" non-profit organization estimated that at least five different manta rays were spotted swimming around Eilat.
Dr. Assaf Zvuloni, an ecologist from the Eilat branch of Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority (INPA), explained that the manta ray is a cartilaginous fish that can reach an impressive wingspan of about seven meters.
Despite their impressive size, manta rays are known as "gentle giants" and are not dangerous to humans.
"The manta ray's diet consists of the smallest creatures in the sea,” Zvuloni said. “It filters plankton from the water by swimming with its mouth wide open and uses a pair of fin-like horns on the sides of its head to direct the water flow rich with tiny creatures, small crustaceans, fish larvae, and invertebrates, into its mouth, where they are filtered."
Mantas are usually found in warm, subtropical, and tropical waters. Eilat Bay, which is part of the Red Sea, serves as a habitat for these creatures.
Even so, their visits to the Eilat coast is considered a rare event. Eilat is located at the northernmost point of the Red Sea, and mantas usually prefer the deeper, open waters that are found south, where the currents are stronger, and plankton is more abundant.
Their arrival at the northern edge of the Red Sea suggests a unique combination of water currents that likely brought a large concentration of plankton closer to the shore.
Meron Segev, an underwater photographer and volunteer with the INPA, who documented the mantas in Eilat Bay, shared that “snorkeling in the Red Sea is always interesting.”
“I went into the water, as I often do, to photograph and document nature for people who don't often get to experience the sea, or who are unable to dive,” he shared. “After an hour and a half of snorkeling at the Eilat beach, I saw a shadow approaching from afar. Based on its size, I knew it was a manta. The black and white colors quickly confirmed my suspicion.”
“Without thinking too much, I turned on the camera and began diving alongside it. The excitement was high, and my pulse was racing. After a few minutes, the manta decided to continue elsewhere.”
When encountering an animal as large as a whale shark or manta, Segev explained, “you understand the magnitude of its presence and gain perspective on the vastness of the sea and the beauty of nature.”
“The oceanic manta swims in a way that resembles a graceful dance, the wings spread and move in a coordinated and elegant manner. Simply a magnificent and beautiful creature.”
“It’s quite rare to see a manta in Eilat,” he said. “In recent years, there have been more and more sightings, but it’s not at a fixed season."
Manta rays under threat of extinction
According to Zvuloni, the arrival of the mantas serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving Eilat Bay as a healthy and clean natural system.
"Preserving the ecosystems in Eilat Bay allows even occasional species to visit our region without fear of harm,” Zvuloni said. “The oceanic manta ray is considered a species at risk of extinction globally, according to the IUCN Red List, primarily due to targeted fishing and bycatch.”
“The species is particularly vulnerable because it grows slowly and reproduces very little, usually just one offspring every few years. Therefore,” he explained, “the conservation status of the species is concerning and requires international protection.”
“Mantas are considered protected natural assets under Israeli law, and they are highly sensitive to disturbances,” he concluded, noting that because of this, “divers and swimmers who encounter them are asked to maintain a distance, not attempt to touch them, and simply enjoy the graceful 'dance' of these giants in the water.”