Best _convenient-to-Toronto_ place for Mantas?

[dfx]

I'm aware of a few Manta hot spots around the globe, but most of them are a bit of a far cry from our home base in Toronto. Asia and the Pacific islands are out of the question for the time being, even Hawaii is a stretch. Also not interested in liveaboards for now.

So, where and when do we need to go to see Mantas that's easily reachable from here? Anywhere in the Caribbean would probably work, as well as the Pacific coast of NA (Gulf of California?). Is there a particular season for them in some places? Do certain night dives bring a high chance of seeing some?

Any helpful info appreciated!

 

[vladimir]

.....

 

[Damselfish]

Easily reachable and somewhat reliable mantas from Toronto and no liveaboard adds up to a tough one... maybe Tobago? Holbox? (though I think that's snorkel only, at least for the whale sharks.)

I've seen mantas in Cayman a decent number of times, but that's over a fair number of dives there and its usually a flyby in the distance rather than an extended encounter. T&C probably has similar potential, like you might get lucky.

 

[Wookie]

They are knocking them out of the park right now at Isla Mujeres.

 

[dfx]

Easily reachable and somewhat reliable mantas from Toronto and no liveaboard adds up to a tough one... maybe Tobago? Holbox? (though I think that's snorkel only, at least for the whale sharks.)

I've heard of Holbox being a good spot for Mantas before, but I'm not aware of any tour operators that would take us there directly. If possible I want to avoid having to book multiple flights and accommodation separately.

I've seen mantas in Cayman a decent number of times, but that's over a fair number of dives there and its usually a flyby in the distance rather than an extended encounter. T&C probably has similar potential, like you might get lucky.

I'm more interested in almost-guaranteed encounters. Kinda like the whale shark trip, you jump in and there they are...

They are knocking them out of the park right now at Isla Mujeres.

Interesting, is that a seasonal thing? For Holbox I've read the season is July-August, maybe their range extends to Mujeres?

 

[Ayisha]

I'm more interested in almost-guaranteed encounters. Kinda like the whale shark trip, you jump in and there they are...

Almost guaranteed encounters outside of the almost-guaranteed parts of the world is a tough one.

I also live in Toronto and got a great deal on a cruise through French Polynesia. We took the Tahitian Princess 11 day cruise from Tahiti including Moorea, Bora Bora, and 3 other islands with a flash promotion at $1025 Cdn plus airfare. 2 flights to get there, so not bad. I dove off of 4 islands and they were awesome, very healthy with lots of large sea life. I saw just about everything but manta rays, but the snorkelers were seeing manta rays right off the beach in Bora Bora. Maybe you might be able to get a really good deal on an exotic place...

 

[Damselfish]

...but I'm not aware of any tour operators that would take us there directly. If possible I want to avoid having to book multiple flights and accommodation separately.

You've already set a bunch of limitations, also expecting a tour that does just what you want is putting an unnecessary limitation on things. When you're looking for something that is out of the mainstream without lots of people looking to book it (which is somewhat true of dive travel to begin with) you may have to make a bit more effort. Booking flights and accommodations and diving is usually not that hard. Possibly you could find a dive oriented travel agent that is familiar with the area and happy to take care of it for you, though it might be less trouble to book it yourself.

 

[dfx]

You've already set a bunch of limitations, also expecting a tour that does just what you want is putting an unnecessary limitation on things. When you're looking for something that is out of the mainstream without lots of people looking to book it (which is somewhat true of dive travel to begin with) you may have to make a bit more effort. Booking flights and accommodations and diving is usually not that hard. Possibly you could find a dive oriented travel agent that is familiar with the area and happy to take care of it for you, though it might be less trouble to book it yourself.

Actually that's the whole reason why I'm asking, to find out if there's any particular place and time of year that mainstream tour operators go to, where you can do a dive with Mantas. Just like all the whale shark snorkel trips that you read about all the time, or some of the other shark dives that are available, those are easy to get to. Maybe such a thing doesn't exist for Mantas, I don't know.

 

[diversteve]

Asia and the Pacific islands are out of the question for the time being, even Hawaii is a stretch. Also not interested in liveaboards for now.
If possible I want to avoid having to book multiple flights and accommodation separately.

I'm more interested in almost-guaranteed encounters.

There's one place that is guaranteed and falls within your restrictions - 5 hr. flight each way also:

Swim with Whale Sharks | Georgia Aquarium

Hawaii might be your best option. Kona is somewhat reliable at night although they occasionally don't show up. My buddy dove with at least 12 there one night in July.
Jack's Diving Locker : Manta Ray Night Dive in Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii. There's also a cleaning station off Maui. Several operators do it as a day dive. IDK how reliably they're seen there:
Manta Ray Diving on Maui | Manta Ray Scuba Dives | Scuba Diving on Maui | Molokini Scuba Dives

I doubt you can get to either from Toronto without an overnite on the return flight at LAX or SFO. Toronto is too far east and you lose too many hours. We can barely do it from Phoenix.

Tobago is about the only place in the Caribbean. That's going to require an overnight on Trinidad also - not the safest place to have to do that.
Manta Lodge Tobago Scuba Diving and Nature Center Spring and early summer only usually.

where you can do a dive with Mantas

Holbox is snorkel only.

 

[Scubagolf]

The Kona Coast Manta Ray Night Dive is almost a sure thing. I have been with Jack's Diving Locker three times, with 7, 8, and 24 mantas showing up. But I have dived with mantas in Bora Bora and recently in Palau where you are out in the open water with them. Kona is a surreal experience, but I have enjoyed the open water encounters more.