Manta Ray Experience
Description
Cruise from Port Denarau through the Mamanuca & Yasawa Islands to Mantaray Island Resort around 3 hours each way. We drop off/pick up guests from resorts along the way before disembarking at Mantaray Island Resort. Following a short briefing, you’ll head out on tender boats to snorkel alongside the majestic manta rays. For those less confident in the water, buoyancy aids are available to ensure you feel comfortable & safe. We partner with the experienced team at Mantaray Island Resort to select dates based on weather & environmental factors, increasing the chances of manta ray sightings in the manta channel. However, as wild creatures, their presence isn’t guaranteed. If they aren’t spotted, you'll still enjoy a guided snorkel through one of Fiji’s most vibrant reefs. Your adventure also includes lunch at the resort’s “Manta Pizza Shack” along with a soft drink or bottled water. Additional drinks can be purchased, and vegetarian options are available—just let us know when booking.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
NOTE: Departing Port Denarau Marina daily at 8:45am, you must double-check your coach transfer pick-up time and failure to do so will result in you missing your tour. Please note that the departure time shown on your tour is the VESSEL DEPARTURE TIME FROM PORT DEANRAU, NOT YOUR COACH PICK UP TIME. If you require a hotel pick up, please select your hotel from the list of pick-up points in your booking process. All coach transfers must be pre-booked with our Reservations office at least the day before your tour by phoning our Call Center. The coach pickups commence approximately 75minutes before the vessel departs from Port Denarau. Please check with our reservations team for your coach pickup time or refer to the South Sea Cruises coach timetable on our website for more info.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infants 0-4 years inclusive are not permitted on this Day Trip
- Manta rays are wild creatures, they follow their own schedule and there is no guarantee that Manta Rays will be seen
Reviews(8)
We were incredibly fortunate to encounter three enormous manta rays. They gracefully looped and circled around us for more than 20 minutes—an absolutely breathtaking experience. These gentle giants were truly the highlight of our trip to Fiji and a memory we will never forget.
Bula F8507PFrutht, Vinaka vakalevu(Thank you very much) for sharing your experience with us. We’re thrilled to hear that you were able to encounter not just one, but three magnificent manta rays during your tour. Watching these gentle giants glide through the water is always a magical and humbling experience, and we’re so pleased it became a highlight of your trip to Fiji. Thank you for choosing to join us for this bucket-list adventure — we hope the memories stay with you for many years to come, and we’d love to welcome you back again for more unforgettable moments on the water. Vinaka & Warm Regards
I had a terrible experience with this company! I had booked the manta experience, but when I asked the staff for information on the correct stop to go to the resort, I was told that I didn't have to get off there. But at the next stop, I asked again and was told that I had to get off at the previous stop! They told me that I had to pay $100 to take a private boat to go to the resort, and even though it was a complete rip-off, I accepted because I risked losing all the money I had paid for the experience! However, upon returning, with a clearer mind, I realized that it had been a mistake by the company and that I shouldn't have paid for it! I asked the staff for assistance, but more than three people pretended to be interested and then left me there without ever coming back! So I spoke to the manager to get a refund, just for the additional boat, but he tried to make me fill out the form incorrectly, making me understand that they didn't want to refund me that money. In the end, they took me to see the recording footage and tried to make me look like an idiot by showing me images of me drinking coffee at another point in the trip. I had to insist a lot, and after half an hour of searching, we found the exact spot in the video, but they tried to deny it even in the face of evidence! I wrote an official complaint to the company, and they didn't even bother to respond! They treated me like an idiot even though it was their mistake, and now they're ignoring me! Not even a butcher's shop would offer this kind of service! I'll never have any experience with this company again!
Bula Vinaka, Thank you sincerely for taking the time to share your experience with us. We’re truly sorry to hear that your Manta Ray Experience did not meet your expectations. We understand how upsetting it must have been to miss your scheduled stop and to then require alternative transport to your resort. Please know that your feedback has been taken seriously. Our team has carefully reviewed the CCTV footage and spoken with the crew members involved to better understand the situation and identify opportunities for improvement. Following our review of the CCTV footage, it appears that during the scheduled stop at Mantaray Resort, multiple announcements were made clearly over the intercom for both day guests and in-house guests to prepare for disembarkation as part of our standard procedure onboard. Guests were seen assembling and disembarking at the designated area accordingly. At 11:44:09, you were observed approaching the lower deck with a cup of coffee, joining the queue alongside other guests. Shortly after, you proceeded toward the bridge deck and then returned at 11:46:19 with your backpack, where you again waited in line, briefly conversed with another guest, and then proceeded to the bridge deck once more. During this timeframe, there were repeated announcements made for guests disembarking at two resorts, including the Mantaray Experience Day trip. A final boarding call was made by our Cruise Director at 11:50:32, clearly stating the stop and urging final disembarkation. At the time of this final announcement, footage shows you making your way up to the sundeck. You approached our onboard team at 12:08:09, at which point it was discovered that you had missed your designated stop. The team immediately did their best to assist by arranging onward transport from the next available stop to facilitate your return to Mantaray Resort. While our investigation confirms that the correct procedures were followed onboard, we fully understand that the situation was frustrating, and we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused. To help rectify the matter onboard, our team promptly completed a refund request for the additional boat transfer you incurred due to the missed stop. This request has been approved, and our Customer Service team will be in touch shortly to finalise the refund process. We are also truly sorry to hear that your follow-up interactions left you feeling unsupported. This is not the impression we want any of our guests to leave with, and we are addressing this internally to ensure that our service reflects the care and empathy we are committed to delivering. Thank you again for your feedback. Your comments help us continuously improve, and we hope to have the opportunity to restore your faith in our service in the future. Vinaka Vakalevu,
Awesome trip from the hotel pick up to the hotel drop off and all the activities on the tiny island including a very tasty meal and free local beer,wine and soft drinks. Read the brochure regarding half day South Sea island Cruise and that is exactly what you get an unforgettable experience.
I did Manta Ray experience. 3 hours one way, that's 6 hours for travel alone. So there's only a few hours for eveything else When we got there we had to be rushedand no Manta Ray to be seen. For the price, it's a waste of money.
Bula U3120WXrr Can you please email your booking details to customerservices@ssc.com.fj so we can look into this further. I look forward to hearing from you.
7 of us (5 adults and 2 children) booked what was billed as a "Manta Ray Experience." The tour consists of a 3-hour morning boat ride to the Yasawa Islands to a resort called Mantaray Island Resort, then a snorkel trip where you are supposed to snorkel with Manta Rays, followed by lunch, and a 3-hour boat ride back to Port Denaurau in time for dinner. First, check-in was very smooth and easy. The boat ride (a ferry, really) was stunning. We enjoyed it very much. Lunch at the resort after snorkeling was delicious. And the boat ride back was also nice (although not as stunning as it is in morning light). Here's what wasn't good: THEY LIE TO YOU. Manta Rays don't like low tide. Low tide is around noon, when they took us out to the snorkel spots. They knew we wouldn't see any Manta Rays. In fact, the guides admitted that they hadn't seen Manta Rays in the afternoon for quite some time. Indeed, other than seeing one at 7am that morning (during high tide), they hadn't seen any Manta Rays at all for many days. I mention this because I specifically asked when I booked how often they DON'T see Manta Rays. They told me around once a week. At the time they made this statement - on the day before our tour - they hadn't seen a single Manta Ray for an entire week. This would have been useful information to have when I booked. Also, at the time we booked (the day before the tour), they knew what time low tide would be. They knew Manta Rays don't like low tide and don't go out in it. They knew we weren't going to see Manta Rays. They did not tell us. I would have made different choices. I would not have spent more than F$2200 on a tour that they knew would not deliver what they promised. So while the ferry ride there was lovely and I enjoyed my fish tacos, WHAT I PAID FOR WAS SWIMMING WITH MANTA RAYS, AND THEY INTENTIONALLY WITHHELD INFORMATION FROM ME THAT THEY KNEW AND I DID NOT ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF SEEING THE PROMISED MANTA RAYS. They can't control mother nature, no doubt, but they should be forthcoming with information they know - especially when asked point blank by a customer. These people are crooks. I wouldn't take another tour from them, nor would I recommend them to others.
Bula Nina R, As you mentioned, we are dealing with mother nature after all so if the mantas aren’t spotted on your particular Manta-Ray Experience then instead you’ll experience one of Fiji’s most vibrant tropical reefs via a guided snorkelling trip. Please note that we do offer a discounted return if there are no Manta-rays to see. We do not promise Manta sightings as these are wild animals and cannot guarantee where they will be each day. Please note that we do offer a discounted return if there are no Manta-rays to see. We hope you enjoyed the remainder of your time in Fiji Vinaka, South Sea Cruises
well no rays but that is nature (they are tidal) cant have it all but this was one if not the best reef i have snorkled clean healthy reef fish fish fish everywhere and lots of schools a couple of reef sharks, eels and nemos nice current so you just needed to float and kick a little & and hour and a half was gone like that. will go back next time i am in fiji.
Bula seansamkenzie, As you mentioned, unfortunately, this is the way it can be with mother nature. Please note that we do offer a discounted return if there are no Manta-rays to see We hope to see you again next time Cheers,
Once in a life time chance and fully understand no guarantees but it was so rushed. No manta rays and the coral reef was disappointing. We were not offered the trip another day for £75 which was stated on the paperwork.
Viator needs to include more information about this experience so that people can plan accordingly. Had we known, we would not have planned a day trip because it was very rushed and we would have planned to stay at the Manta Ray Island Resort overnight. It's a 3 hour ferry ride from the port and upon arriving (around 11:30/12), it's a very rushed experience because you get a quick intro and go out to sea for snorkeling / scuba diving for about an hour and then rush to the lunch that comes with the experience (very yummy - but still felt rushed the whole time). Pickup for the ferry back to the port is between 2-2:30, sometimes 3, and then it's a 3 hour ferry ride back to the port. This a 6 hour commute time for not a ton of time in the water to immerse in the beautiful underwater world. Nice if you like ferry rides, but you're paying to immerse yourself in the manta ray experience / underwater world. The guide and people were extremely friendly, but the hour or so in the water was so short compared to the travel time. While we didn't see manta rays because the tides were low, we saw so much underwater life and such amazing types of reefs that we have never seen elsewhere. I recommend staying here overnight rather than the day trip.
