Reef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
Sighting evidence at Drawaqa Passage, Yasawa Islands
Photo: Luis P. B. · CC BY-NC
Reef manta rays aggregate at Drawaqa Passage from November through May when trade-wind-driven upwellings push dense zooplankton patches into the channel, triggering feeding frenzies where rays barrel-roll through the surface layer with open mouths. Individual mantas identified by belly spot patterns have been photo-catalogued at this site by marine researchers, revealing that some individuals are residents of the Yasawa channel system while others are transient visitors from wider Fijian waters. The cleaning station aspect of the site operates year-round as small cleaner wrasse stations persist on the channel's coral heads even outside peak manta season.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Reef Manta Ray is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.