Back from the Brink: Manta and Mobula Rays in the Sea of Cortez

Given the nickname “The Aquarium of the World” it’s easy to assume that the Sea of Cortez is home to an abundance of aquatic life. With Todos Santos Eco Adventures (TOSEA) there are myriad ways that visitors can explore, experience, and enjoy natural Eden. We’ve already shared many a story about the incredible whale, whale shark, and sea lion encounters but did you know the area is also home to the magnificent Manta Ray and Mobula Rays? Owners of TOSEA, Bryan and Sergio Jauragui filmed just a few magical moments with a Manta which you can view here.

For guests staying at Camp Cecil on Isla Espiritu Santo, their chances of manta encounters are good – especially during the height of Manta season (September) – November….but this wasn’t always the case. The amazing Isla Espiritu Santo is one of 900 islands in the Espiritu Santo Archipelago that are part of the Gulf of California Islands Flora and Fauna Protected Area established in 1978. In 2005 Espiritu Santo and 244 other islands in the Sea of Cortez were named a UNESCO World Heritage site, and in 2007 the Marine Zone of Espiritu Santo Archipelago National Park was established. This marine national park covers an area of 48,000 hectares and is of utmost importance to the Manta who, in the late 80’s and early 90’s was on the brink of extinction in the Sea of Cortez. Here, in Bryan Jauregui’s blog titled “Manta Rays: The Ocean’s Kings of Charisma”, you can learn more about the plight of the Manta and Mobula Rays over the past few decades and what is being done to help! We invite you down to experience this wonder for yourself!