DIY Manta Ray Snorkelling with Kids in Bora Bora
If you have ever seen a tourist brochure or the picture perfect photos from the beautiful island of Bora Bora on Instagram, you know that with its crystal-clear turquoise waters and palm-fringed shores, it’s a paradise waiting to be explored with your family.
We guess that most people go to Bora Bora to enjoy their honeymoon or have a special tropical couples vacation – but not us! We came here with our kids to take in the gorgeous landscape and have epic underwater moments that’ll have our family talking about it for years to come!
According to our research when we planned our trip to French Polynesia Bora Bora was by far the island with the most accessible places to snorkel with manta rays. That was one of the main reasons we chose to visit Bora Bora.
And the great thing about this place is, that you can actually swim with the manta rays without going on an expensive tour with a big group of people. Here it’s easy to make a DIY snorkel trip and take your kids to see the manta rays at a very low cost (well, assuming that you are already in Bora Bora).
In this blog post, we will go through everything you need to know to make a DIY trip and take your kids snorkelling with the manta rays.
Introducing Bora Bora
Welcome to Bora Bora, a slice of paradise nestled in the heart of the South Pacific! With its crystalline waters, vibrant coral reefs, ocean protection from barrier reefs and diverse marine life, Bora Bora is a snorkeller’s dream destination.
Whether you’re a seasoned underwater explorer or dipping your toes into snorkeling for the first time, the clear, warm waters of Bora Bora offer unparalleled opportunities to discover the colorful world beneath the surface.
From graceful manta rays gliding gracefully through the sea to vibrant coral gardens teeming with life, Bora Bora’s pristine marine environment promises unforgettable snorkeling experiences for all ages!
The magic of DIY manta ray snorkelling in Bora Bora with your kids
Embarking on a DIY manta ray snorkelling adventure in Bora Bora is a magical experience that the whole family can enjoy together.
We find that one of the most enchanting aspects of snorkelling with manta rays is the opportunity to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.
Glide through the crystal-clear waters as graceful mantas gracefully dance below, their wings spanning like underwater angels. The sense of wonder and awe on your kids’s faces as they witness these gentle giants up close is truly priceless.
Unlike guided tours, which can be expensive and crowded, DIY snorkelling allows you the freedom to explore at your own pace, creating unforgettable memories with your kids along the way AND saving $$$$.
The organized manta ray snorkel trips in Bora Bora will set you back around $80-100 per person for a half day trip which can be a lot of money for a travelling family (such as ourselves).
In our opinion, DIY manta ray snorkelling also allows for a more intimate and personalized experience with the animals. You can take your time observing the mantas as they play, and interact with each other, without feeling rushed or crowded by other tourists (unless you arrive at the same time as many of the organized tours).
Where can you snorkel with manta rays in Bora Bora?
Bora Bora has a couple of places close to the shore where manta rays are frequently spotted. This means it’s pretty easy to go look for them on your own as long as you have your own snorkel gear and a rental car or other means of transportation.
The Manta Point at Pointe Ta’ihi is a well known manta ray cleaning station. This means that the manta rays like to swim by this site to get cleaned.
Here you can read more about the nature of manta rays.
What is a manta ray cleaning station?
A manta ray cleaning station is an underwater location where manta rays gather for the purpose of being cleaned by smaller fish known as cleaner fish. These cleaner fish remove parasites, dead skin, and other debris from the manta rays’ bodies, helping to keep them healthy. These cleaning stations are typically found in areas with high manta ray populations, such as coral reefs or other marine environments.
There is another manta ray site at Fiti’u’u Point but here you have to park your car further away from the site and pay around $5 per person to walk down a path to get to the site.
We decided to skip this option given how easy it was to get to the Manta Point by car, our success rate of seeing the mantas there (100%), and the convenience of getting out of the water right at the car when our kids were tired from swimming with the mantas.
How to get to the Manta Point in Bora Bora
So how do you get your family to the exact spot where you can snorkel with manta rays?
We think it’s easiest to hire a rental car and suggest you have one for the time you stay in Bora Bora. However, this only goes if you stay on the main island and not one of the motu’s (in that case, you would have to take a water taxi to the port, and a normal taxi from there).
The map shows the location of the manta point.
When you arrive to the Manta point by car, it should be easy enough to find a parking spot on the side of the road. There is small stretch of sand right by the road and on most days you can easily spot the coral reef from the shore.
The first part of the reef is extremely shallow just enough water for you to snorkel above. Interestingly, French Polynesia has almost no tide so you don’t need to time your snorkel trip for being able to cross the shallow part of the reef.
From the shore, you can also easily identify where the coral reef drops off and the water gets deeper. This is where you should be looking for the manta rays.
At some times during the day there will be tour boats at the spot. We found that around 11 o’clock could be very busy here so we would suggest to come either before or after that time.
But do opt to go when the sun is out as this will create a much better visibility in the water!
If there are some tour boats at the Manta Point with snorkellers in the water, there’s a good chance that they have spotted a manta. They often have a spotter who knows where the mantas are. Swim towards their group and look for mantas beneath you.
If there are no boats by the reef, just scan the line of where the reef drops into the deeper water for a while until you see a manta ray.
We went to the Manta Point 6-7 times while staying in Bora Bora with our kids and we had a hit rate of 100% for manta encounters!
What will you see at the Manta Point in Bora Bora?
In our experience, you don’t have to spend much time in the water at the Manta Point until you will see one of the gentle giants gliding beneath you.
Although the visibility is not the best we have seen when snorkelling in French Polynesia, there is a decent coral reef that you can explore as well. Here you can spot butterfly fish, parrot fish, damsels and many colourful clams. Check out our post about what to look for when snorkelling with kids in French Polynesia.
What to bring when snorkeling with manta rays
Here are our suggestions for what to bring for your snorkel trip in French Polynesia:
- Snorkel, mask and fins: Essential for exploring the underwater wonders of French Polynesia is a high-quality snorkel and mask set that ensures clear visibility and comfortable breathing. Make sure that you have masks that have a proper fit and seals well to the face of each family member! In some spots it’s also a great idea to bring fins for all. We recommend buying these items before leaving for French Polynesia as the selection of them here can be limited.
- Camera: Capture the magic of exploring incredible marine wildlife by bringing along a waterproof camera or a reliable underwater case for your smartphone. Documenting your encounters allows you to relive the thrill and share your experiences with friends and family back home.
- Sunscreen: Protect your skin from the sun’s harsh rays with reef-friendly sunscreen. Opt for mineral-based formulas that are safe for both your skin and the delicate marine environment of the beautiful reefs of French Polynesia.
- Long-Sleeved Swimming Shirt and shorts: It’s essential to shield your skin from harmful UV rays. A lightweight, long-sleeved swimming shirt offers added sun protection without sacrificing comfort, allowing you to snorkel in style while keeping sunburn at bay. Wearing swimming shorts will protect your bum from burning (great advice for girls, too, just saying). If your child feels cold easily, you could consider having them wear a thin wetsuit but we don’t find it necessary in the warm waters of French Polynesia.
- A floating device (optional): If you are worried about your child’s swimming capabilities, it’s a good idea to bring a floating device (eg. a noodle) for use if they get tired while swimming.
Is it safe to snorkel with manta rays?
The short answer is yes. Contrary to what you might think due to their size, manta rays are not considered dangerous to swim with. They don’t have any teeth and they feed on tiny plankton just like many whales.
However, like any wildlife encounter, it’s essential to respect the animals and their environment. Always follow guidelines provided by local authorities to ensure your safety and the well-being of the manta rays.
Remember to maintain a respectful distance, avoid touching the rays, and refrain from chasing or harassing them. With the right precautions, snorkeling with manta rays can be an incredible opportunity to observe these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.
Our experience of DIY manta ray snorkelling with our kids in Bora Bora
We absolutely loved snorkelling with the manta rays in Bora Bora! We loved it so much that we had to return many times during our stay there – we ended up going 6-7 times!
Our kids were fascinated by the huge gentle creatures and loved watching them in the water.
We also saw some other cool animals like octopuses and lots of colorful reef fish while snorkelling at this site so it was definitely one of our favourite spots in Bora Bora even though you could easily find some spots with clearer water.
The only thing we didn’t love was the one time we came there around 11 o’clock and it was so crowded with snorkellers that we quickly went back to the beach. However only 30 minutes later, most of the boats had moved on and we could enjoy the mantas peacefully.
Final words
Taking our kids snorkelling with manta rays was one of the absolute highlights of our trip to Bora Bora.
We were surprised about how accessible they were and enjoyed that we could go and swim with them whenever we felt like it and at our own pace.
As written previously, we went many times and were lucky to find the manta rays each and every time.
We highly recommend going to this magical site to do some manta ray snorkelling with your kids if you are planning a trip to Bora Bora.
Other resources
If you enjoy taking your kids exploring islands and the underwater wonders, we recommend taking a look at our posts about snorkelling with stingrays and sharks in Moorea, what to look for when snorkelling with kids in French Polynesia, snorkelling with sea turtles in the Gili Islands of Indonesia and exploring the island of Sal in Cape Verde with kids.
