Anau, Bora Bora

If you've ever fantasized of swimming with manta rays, Anau is the place to go. Snorkelers can see the rays up to 80 feet (25 meters) below the surface on a clear day, while divers can get a closer look. While the rays are the main draw, the two coral reefs here are home to a diverse range of sea life, including colorful corals, turtles, black-tip sharks, moray eels, and other species.

While ray sightings aren't certain, because Anau is a cleaning station, they're fairly prevalent. Any location where small fish and crustaceans consume parasites and, for lack of a better term, ocean crumbs that collect on the bodies of mantas is referred to as an underwater "cleaning station." These stations are usually shallow, and mantas use them on a daily basis because they know cleaner fish like parrotfish and wrasse will be there. Book this dive two mornings in a row to increase your chances of encountering mantas, as it is closed to divers in the afternoon.

Dive Type: Boat dive
Closest Departure Point: Motu Piti A'au (near the Intercontinental Bora Bora)
Depth: 30 to 80 feet
Certification Required: Open water
Location: Bora Bora