Watch: Environmental Group Captures Massive Manta Ray On Video

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – A massive manta ray is a rare sight in Tampa Bay but members of the environmental watch group, Tampa Bay Watch, managed to capture one on video Tuesday, March 6.

The Tampa Bay Watch staff was doing boat safety drills near the Shell Key Preserve just off the Pinellas County coast when they saw what they thought was a dolphin. Upon closer inspection, the creature proved to be a giant manta ray ranging between 8 to 9 feet wide.

The environmental scientists with Tampa Bay Watch quickly noted the location, water depth, estimated size and other details for the Marine Mega Fauna Foundation.

The video posted to Facebook was taken by Audrey Mitchell, who is a Tampa Bay Watch environmental educator.

While noteworthy, this is far from the largest giant oceanic manta ray (Manta birostris) found. That honor goes to one found by fishing crew off Nigeria’s Bonny Island in 2012. That big guy measured nearly 30 feet across and weighed more than a ton.