Almost nothing is known about manta ray movements and their environmental preferences, making them one of the least understood of the marine mega-vertebrates.

Manta rays are most often reported in coastal areas and continental shelves, near seamounts and in upwelling zones.

From unpublished reports and popular media, it would appear that manta rays are known to congregate in enormous numbers (up to hundreds of individuals) in some areas (e.g. Mexico, Mozambique, Maldives, Hawaii and Micronesia) for courtship, breeding and to visit cleaning stations. While manta rays are thought to remain resident to some areas, particularly the smaller and more coastally-constrained M. alfredi , in other areas they are thought to make seasonal long-distance migrations away from breeding areas, although non-breeding sites are not known.

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Movements of manta rays in the western Caribbean and south-east Gulf of Mexico. -