The verdict
Best places to dive with ocellated eagle rays
Aetobatus ocellatus
The most reliable place to dive with ocellated eagle rays is Seychelles, from All year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: 0 of 10 at peak | February: 0 of 10 at peak | March: 0 of 10 at peak | April: 0 of 10 at peak | May: 0 of 10 at peak | June: 0 of 10 at peak | July: 0 of 10 at peak | August: 0 of 10 at peak | September: 0 of 10 at peak | October: 0 of 10 at peak | November: 0 of 10 at peak | December: 0 of 10 at peak |
Possible only
Based on 1,230 OBIS records of ocellated eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus) within 60 km of 37 dive destinations.
Top destinations to dive with ocellated eagle rays
Ranked on how reliably they turn up, then on how long the record runs.
| # | Destination | Country / area | Season | Reliability | Evidence | Dive type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seychelles | Seychelles | All year | Near-guaranteed | 14 of 22 years | Day boat |
| 2 | Baa / Hanifaru, Maldives | Maldives | All year | Near-guaranteed | 10 of 16 years | Day boat |
| 3 | North & Central Atolls, Maldives | Maldives | All year | Near-guaranteed | 14 of 23 years | Liveaboard, Day boat |
| 4 | Galapagos Central | Ecuador | All year | Likely | 18 of 31 years | Liveaboard, Day boat |
| 5 | Oahu | USA | All year | Likely | 17 of 29 years | Day boat, Shore |
| 6 | Byron Bay / Julian Rocks | Australia | All year | Likely | 16 of 32 years | Day boat |
| 7 | Big Island / Kona | USA | All year | Likely | 15 of 30 years | Day boat |
| 8 | Abu Dabbab | Red Sea | All year | Likely | 12 of 26 years | Day boat, Shore |
| 9 | Marsa Alam | Red Sea | All year | Likely | 12 of 26 years | Day boat, Liveaboard |
| 10 | Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos | Ecuador | All year | Likely | 11 of 29 years | Liveaboard |
Also on record at Komodo North, Komodo South, Moorea / Tahiti, French Polynesia, Strait of Gubal / Thistlegorm, Hurghada, Safaga, Lombok, Tulamben / Amed, Sharm el-Sheikh / Ras Mohammed, Palau, El Quseir, Rangiroa, French Polynesia, Eilat, Aqaba, Cairns, Mabul / Kapalai, Cook Islands, Nuweiba / Ras Abu Galum, Wakatobi, Bunaken, Lembeh Strait, Darwin & Wolf, Galapagos, Maui / Molokini, Sipadan, Ribbon Reefs, Reunion and Aliwal Shoal.
When to dive with ocellated eagle rays
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seychelles | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Baa / Hanifaru, Maldives | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| North & Central Atolls, Maldives | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Galapagos Central | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Oahu | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Byron Bay / Julian Rocks | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Big Island / Kona | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Abu Dabbab | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Marsa Alam | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos | Jan: Possible | Feb: Possible | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Possible | Aug: Possible | Sep: Possible | Oct: Possible | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
Possible
Ocellated eagle ray month by month
- January
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Seychelles.
- February
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Seychelles.
- March
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Seychelles.
- April
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Seychelles.
- May
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Seychelles.
- June
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Seychelles.
- July
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Seychelles.
- August
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Seychelles.
- September
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Seychelles.
- October
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Seychelles.
- November
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Seychelles.
- December
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Seychelles.
What to expect in the water
Water temperature and the suit to pack at the top sites, in the months ocellated eagle rays are there.
| Destination | Season | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seychelles | All year | 26–30 °C | 3 mm full suit |
| Baa / Hanifaru, Maldives | All year | 29–30 °C | Skin or 3 mm shorty |
| North & Central Atolls, Maldives | All year | 29–30 °C | Skin or 3 mm shorty |
| Galapagos Central | All year | 22–27 °C | 5 mm full suit |
| Oahu | All year | 25–27 °C | 5 mm full suit |
What else you'll see with ocellated eagle rays
Animals at their peak in the same places and months.
Reef manta
At Baa / Hanifaru, Maldives, North & Central Atolls, Maldives and 2 more
Humpback whale
At Galapagos Central, Oahu and 2 more
Oceanic whitetip
At Big Island / Kona, Abu Dabbab and Marsa Alam
Grey reef shark
At Baa / Hanifaru, Maldives and North & Central Atolls, Maldives
Napoleon wrasse
At Baa / Hanifaru, Maldives and North & Central Atolls, Maldives
Whitetip reef shark
At North & Central Atolls, Maldives and Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos
Diving with ocellated eagle rays: common questions
- Where is the best place to dive with ocellated eagle rays?
- The most reliable place to dive with ocellated eagle rays is Seychelles, from All year.
- What wetsuit do you need to dive with ocellated eagle rays?
- At Seychelles from All year, the water is 26 °C to 30 °C, so bring a 3 mm full suit.
- How many places can you dive with ocellated eagle rays?
- besttimetodive.com has ocellated eagle rays on record at 37 of the destinations it scores. Not an exhaustive list — these are the sites we hold verified data for.