Seeing sea creatures in the wild comes with some incredible views and fascinating creatures. When you visit tropical waters, you have the opportunity to swim among giant creatures when you take a manta ray snorkel tour. While you can watch the creatures from a boat or swim near the surface of the water, you can enjoy even more great visuals deeper in the water.

A snorkel tour gives you the opportunity to go deeper and see the manta rays as they swim over you. Check out some of the advantages of seeing the creatures from below and why you should incorporate the angle as part of a manta ray snorkeling tour.

1. Backlit Silhouettes 

In many cases, the main light provided by manta rays will come from above. During the day, sunlight will shine through the water. At night, a boat will provide spotlights directly on the water. When you swim directly underneath the manta rays and look up, the backlight will create a silhouette against the light.

The backlight effect allows you to clearly see the shapes of the manta rays as they swim through the water. If you have an underwater camera, then the effect can create a unique picture, especially if you have a whole group of manta rays that swim together.

2. Manta Ray Facial Details

The top side of a manta ray includes a smooth surface and a possible pattern across its skin. While fascinating to look at, the manta ray features even more details when you look at it from below. On the manta ray, you can see the creature's eyes, gills, mouth, and underside pattern. You can witness some of the subtle movements as the creature swims underwater.

A manta ray may also have a completely different skin pattern underneath the water.

3. Manta Ray Feedings

Manta rays will often feed on plankton in the water and a view from underneath can showcase how the manta rays feed. When the water is darker, you can see the plankton glowing. With the glow effect, you will have clear visuals as manta ray suck in the food and feed while they swim through the water. You can see their mouths open and get a close-up view.

When you embark on a snorkel tour, request an underside view of the manta ray to enjoy the unique experience. Even with the underwater view, you can still enjoy other views while on the same trip.

Learn more about manta ray snorkel tours to prepare for your trip.