Mobula Rays' migration in the Sea of Cortez
- Michel Braunstein
- Jun 12
- 1 min read
Updated: Jun 14
The Magic of Mobula Rays in the Sea of Cortez
Each year, thousands of mobula rays—small relatives of manta rays—migrate through the waters of the Sea of Cortez. Witnessing this natural spectacle had always been a dream of mine. After several attempts to time my trip with their migration in Baja California, Mexico, I finally decided—just like the Elvis song says—“It’s now or never.”
And I did it.
This journey turned out to be one of the most moving and unforgettable travel experiences of my life. Watching the mobula rays leap out of the water, over and over again, never loses its magic. Their acrobatic jumps are not only breathtaking but also full of character—graceful, surprising, and even a little bit playful.
We set out early in the morning aboard a small motorboat for an eight-hour expedition across the Sea of Cortez. It didn’t take long before we spotted our first pod. Carefully, we approached and slipped into the water, ready to swim alongside them. Seeing them up close in their natural environment was absolutely mesmerizing.
As we dove down to get nearer, the mobulas would sometimes glide deeper into the blue, almost like a game of hide and seek. In shallower waters, we were lucky to share the same space with them, observing their graceful movements just meters away.
It’s hard to put into words how deeply this experience touched me. It was pure magic—an emotional encounter with nature that I’ll carry with me forever.
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