The Boiler, Mexico

By Simon Buxton (Adapted from "passport to diving the world")

Well Known For :

The most unique manta encounter on Earth.

Having done this site week after week for an entire season, I believe it's the most unique manta encounter on Earth. Here, mantas view humans as scratching posts/parasite removers, and as merely raising your hand above your head will cause a manta to come to you if it's feeling lonely. The mantas are huge (five-metre wingspan), and if you're lucky you'll see an all black one. A typical dive on this site goes something like this: Get in the rough, choppy water that looks like it's boiling and head down a reference line to the reef at 10m. See a manta and remain there until it's time to come up. On the days when the mantas are elusive, look in the cracks of the reef for small gobies and juvenile clarion angelfish, or go deep and look for sharks. Mantas elsewhere don't seek the human touch, so please don't chase them!

(Ok enough with the stories, I'm itchin' for a dive)