Tour Boats vs Mantas and Humans: Hazards and Best Practices
The safety of manta ray tourism is paramount.
However, with its increasing popularity, two significant threats have emerged: the use of hull lighting and live boating with active propellers.
These practices have led to injuries among manta rays and humans, presenting a clear danger to everyone’s safety and well-being.
Why Hull Lighting is Dangerous for Marine Animals
Hull lighting means installing lights below the waterline in a boat’s hull, often near other hard, immovable boat hardware such as rudders, ladders, and propellers.
Plankton, the primary food source of manta rays, is naturally attracted to light sources. Over time, mantas have learned that where there is light, there is abundant food for them to consume.
That is why hull lights pose a serious risk: manta rays attracted to the light can collide with the boat’s hardware and get seriously injured.
This creates an unsafe environment for the mantas.
The Dangers of Live Boating
Tour boats use moorings to stay in place at manta ray viewing sites - a system that keeps boats secure without harming the seabed. When viewing areas become crowded, and there aren't enough moorings, boats should anchor in sandy areas to protect coral reefs.
However, some boat captains remain driving around near viewing areas with their engines and propellers running. This practice, known as “live boating,” is extremely risky, and has become a major safety concern.
Manta rays often get struck and injured by propellers, addtionally it poses a significant safety threat to human participants.
In 2022, a fatal accident occurred when a boat propeller struck a crew member who tragically did not survive. This was not an isolated incident; similar fatal accidents occurred in 2016 and 2017.
These devastating events underscore the risks associated with manta ray tourism and emphasize the importance of activity providers adhering to Manta Tour Operator Standards.
We have documented serious injuries to manta rays caused by hull lighting and propellers and captured the footage in the video below.
Abandoning People in the Water
We never thought we would need to write this sentence, but deserting people in the water is very bad!
Tour operators have abandoned their crew and guests at manta ray viewing sites while they go back to the shore to pick up and drop off more guests. This allows for a higher turnaround, but leaves snorkelers and divers stranded at the viewing site in case of emergencies.
This troubling practice is absolutely stunning and has become more common as the demand for manta ray encounters has grown, with operators prioritizing profits over the safety and well-being of their customers and staff.
This not only puts the individuals at high risk but also damages the reputation of the tour industry and conservation efforts around manta rays.
In December 2023, the Coast Guard issued a communication that reminded companies that leaving their passengers in the water is considered “abandoning and negligence” per article 46 CFR 5.29.
Tour operators' abandonment of crew and guests at Manta Ray viewing sites is a serious issue that needs to be addressed through stronger regulations, better coordination, and a renewed focus on safety and accountability in the tour industry.
The Urgent Need for Safer Practices
Both tourists and tour operators must recognize the risks associated with irresponsible practices around manta viewing sites.
By choosing to book with activity providers who adhere to best practices - such as using moorings or responsible anchoring safely away from the viewing areas and ensuring all lighting is positioned away from dangerous hardware - we can minimize these risks.
Asking these five questions before choosing a tour operator is a good place to start. Together, we can contribute to a safer environment for both marine life and participants in manta ray swimming tours.