Manta rays near the Solomon Islands (© Don Silcock/Cultura/plainpicture)

【January 10 2016】Mantas are the largest of the ocean’s rays. And though they’re related to sharks, the batoid body shape is the one of several things that set rays apart from their cousins. As mantas swim in warm ocean waters, they flap their fins, essentially moving through liquid the same way birds navigate the air. Giant oceanic mantas can grow to be 23 feet wide, and while they may appear fearsome to an unsuspecting snorkeler, they’re filter feeders, swimming with mouths open to draw in nothing but tiny zooplankton.Explore breathtaking Gallery from the HuluTrip homepage over the past 5 years..