Giant manta ray and a photographer off the Ningaloo Coast, Australia

The giant manta ray is the world's largest ray. With a wingspan up to nine metres, they can look imposing, but they are harmless to humans, which is good news for the photographer in our image. That's because unlike stingrays, these gentle giants of the ocean do not have a sharp barb. They are playful and curious creatures and have the largest known brain of any fish – studies have shown that manta rays may recognise themselves in the mirror. You can swim with manta rays all year round on the Ningaloo Reef, located in the north-west coastal region of Western Australia.
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