Ray
Bentfin devil ray
Mobula thurstoni
A smaller relative of the manta, told apart by a distinctive double curve on the leading edge of its wings and iridescent silver underwings. Devil rays sometimes join the manta feeding events in Hanifaru Bay during the plankton-rich southwest monsoon, filter-feeding in the same bloom.
- Max size
- Up to ~1.9m disc width
- Habitat
- Open water, entering atoll channels and Hanifaru Bay to feed on plankton
Best places to dive with Bentfin devil ray
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
The smaller relatives of the mantas, devil rays frequently pass over reefs and around safety stops in fast-moving groups.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | not seen |
| February | not seen |
| March | not seen |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | rare |
| December | not seen |
Plankton-driven like the mantas, most likely inside the southwest-monsoon aggregation window (June to October) and absent or rare in the northeast monsoon. A less predictable Hanifaru visitor, so kept conservative.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
This is a researched draft, not yet human-verified. The seasonality and logistics are drawn from the sources below — confirm specifics (permits, fees, closures) with an operator before you book.
- Bentfin Devil Ray (Mobula thurstoni) — The Manta Trust
- Mobula thurstoni — Wikipedia
Note on the data: The researcher's cited Manta Trust page was reported as critically endangered; the IUCN Red List category for Mobula thurstoni is Endangered. Using Endangered pending direct verification on iucnredlist.org. Confidence low.