While whale sharks get the headlines, Tofo's population of reef manta rays — present throughout the year — is arguably the more reliable wildlife encounter. The outer reef has established cleaning stations where manta rays queue up to have parasites removed by small wrasse fish. Divers can hover above the station and watch the rays circle in one of the more hypnotic sights in diving.
Manta rays at cleaning stations are unusually approachable — they're focused on the cleaning process, not on you. Experienced divers can get very close without disturbing the behaviour. Most Tofo dive centres run regular trips to the station; it's typically a short boat ride from shore. The best conditions are during incoming tides in calm weather. Even on days when weather limits the whale shark excursions, the manta station is usually accessible.