A rare sighting in the Gulf of Eilat- Manta-ray

While snorkeling in front of the Inter-University Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat on 30 June 2025, I spotted a giant manta ray rising from the depths to just 5 – 10 metres below the surface.

Fortunately, I had my camera with me, so I was able to capture the encounter on film.

Manta rays are globally threatened, yet they still appear in the Gulf of Eilat / Aqaba a few times each year, typically when plankton blooms draw them north. Every sighting is valuable- reporting photos to conservation databases helps researchers track these transient, vulnerable giants.