# Manta Ray Tracker — Manta Rays of Kona, Hawaii

> Manta ray identification and sighting tracker for Kona, Hawaii. (iPhone/iPad app by Janice McLaughlin.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manta-ray-tracker/id1191214032 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Janice McLaughlin](https://appshunter.io/developer/323409493)
- Category: Reference, Education
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.40/5 from 5 App Store ratings · 4 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.6 · 76 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2018-12-23
- Data updated: 2026-08-14
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manta-ray-tracker/id1191214032/reviews.md

## What is Manta Ray Tracker?

Meet the Manta Rays of Kona, Hawaii! 

Since 1991, the Kona Manta Rays have been photographed and identified using their
unique spot pattern on their ventral (abdominal) side. The first Kona Manta Ray ever identfied was Lefty, and there are now more than 300 unique rays catalogued. Download the Manta Ray Tracker App from the iOS App Store, and get to know them!

With this App, you'll be able to:
- Download the full list of identified Manta Rays as well as Refresh the list by only downloading the recently added ones
- View Photos and Descriptions of each ray as well as view the recent sightings of each individual
- Lookup sighting information from each one of the regular night dive locations, as well as lookup when the "most" and "least" mantas were seen at these sites
- Lookup the Mantas by the individuals seen the most, and lookup the Users who have contributed the most sightings

Please contribute your own manta photos to our sighting database! If you can't identify it, we will help you figure it out if it's an acceptable photo. If you submit a photo of an unknown manta, you can name it and we will add it to the ID catalog. We also want to accumulate as many photos of each individual as we can with the idea that eventually we may be able to automatically recognize an individual from their photo.

Many Kona Manta Ray guides contribute their sighting information into the database, but we are always looking for more data. Ask your guide to submit their sighting information, or take some ID photos yourself and send those in. Whether the individual mantas are already identified, or you just have a total number seen, we want your reports.

You can create a location for your sighting anywhere along the Kona Coast. You can use the built-in GPS on your iOS device, you can use the built-in map to mark the location, or you can manually type in the GPS coordinates. You don't need an internet connection to create a sighting. You can create as many sightings as you want entering the specific information for each one, continue to fill out the information as needed, and then submit reports to us once you are back in internet range.

Contribute to our Research!

Crowd Sourcing Data Collection and Citizen Science contributions allow for a larger collection of data than is possible with a limited number of researchers. Help us create awareness of the plight of Manta Rays worldwide by studying our local Kona Manta Ray population. Help us with Research, Education, and Conservation of Manta Rays!

## Key features

- Catalog of over 300 identified manta rays
- View photos and descriptions of individual rays
- Track recent sightings and dive locations
- Contribute your own manta ray photos and sightings
- Offline sighting creation
- GPS and map integration for sighting location

## Recent user reviews (4 of 4)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manta-ray-tracker/id1191214032/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Mantas

*2022-10-01*

I want to find Manta Rays in my area BUT it just goes to Honolulu!! I’m in the Mediterranean Sea and I want to save them here, the problem is that only Honolulan ppl can see so this is considered USELESS!! (except for Honolulu).

**Developer response:** You are quite right! That's why the App says it is only for the mantas of "Kona, Hawaii". (Which is nowhere near Honolulu just FYI). We get millions of tourists from around the world coming to Kona, Hawaii to see the Kona manta rays. I suggest if you want to "save manta rays", you contact a local organization in your area or somewhere closer to you that studies Mobula rays. Would appreciate you changing your review  to accommodate your mistake. Thanks!

### 5/5 — Fantastic tool for citizen contributions to science

*2022-07-27*

Great tracker for the mantas on the Kona coast. If this tool was utilized more in our community we would have a better understanding on the movement ecology of our Kona mantas.

### 5/5 — View and report manta sightings!

*2019-07-10*

App gets the job done and lets you view and submit manta sightings so the manta pacific research foundation can better understand their numbers and behavior patterns. Mantas are amazing 11/10 would manta again!

### 5/5 — Welcoming manta ray research into the app era.

*2019-03-18*

Great tool to easily add manta ray data into an easily searchable data base.  
I’m super happy to have it.

## Frequently asked questions about Manta Ray Tracker

### What is Manta Ray Tracker?

Manta Ray Tracker is an app that allows users to discover and log sightings of individual manta rays in Kona, Hawaii. It provides detailed information on over 300 cataloged rays and encourages user contributions to aid in research and conservation.

### How many manta rays are cataloged in Manta Ray Tracker?

The app catalogs over 300 unique manta rays, with the first identified ray being Lefty. The catalog has been maintained since 1991.

### Can I contribute my own manta ray sightings to Manta Ray Tracker?

Yes, users are encouraged to contribute their manta photos and sighting information. If you submit a photo of an unknown manta, the app can help identify it and you can even name it.

### Does Manta Ray Tracker require an internet connection to log sightings?

No, you do not need an internet connection to create a sighting. You can log multiple sightings with specific information and submit them later when you are back in internet range.

### What devices does Manta Ray Tracker support?

Manta Ray Tracker is available on iOS devices, including iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is also supported on Mac computers.

### How often is Manta Ray Tracker updated?

The latest version of Manta Ray Tracker is 1.0.24, and it was last updated on January 7, 2026. Users can refresh the list to download recently added manta rays.

### What is the rating of Manta Ray Tracker?

Manta Ray Tracker has a rating of 4.4 stars based on 5 ratings. Users generally find it to be a valuable tool for learning about and contributing to manta ray research.

### Is Manta Ray Tracker free to use?

Yes, Manta Ray Tracker is completely free to download and use. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.0.3 — 2026-08-10

NEW IN THIS RELEASE:
- bugfix for crash when user "double taps" a row quickly
- add back a search bar on the main Manta List to search Mantas by name

### 2.0.1 — 2026-07-04

There is now a new "Identify" feature! Provide the App with an image that includes a Kona Manta Ray, and it will use Machine Learning to try and identify which of our Kona Mantas it is. You will be shown a list of up to 3 possible individuals it could be with the percentage of probability. Use this information to tag your images in your sighting reports! The App is NOT 100% accurate so you will have to verify the identification on your own. The higher the number of images we have of an individual manta, the more likely the App will provide a correct result. So be sure to send us your great "ID" sighting images, *especially* if it does not accurately predict the correct individual.

All of the processing happens on the device, no network connection required. This means you can also use the App's Camera functionality to take a picture underwater, (let's hope you also have an underwater housing for your device first though) and you will know on your dive or snorkel which manta you are in the water with!

### 1.0.24 — 2026-01-07

NEW IN THIS RELEASE:
- add new toggles to be able to search the main Manta list via Species,Sex, and Color
- add new swipe interface on the user Sighting list :: swipe left to right to "Copy" an existing Sighting, swipe right to left to "Delete" an existing sighting
- add the year to the Sightings display of Excursions

### 1.0.23 — 2024-12-22

NEW IN THIS RELEASE:
- Use larger manta thumbnail photo if the device size supports it; will also download a new version of the Thumbnail if the existing one is smaller than the device size
- Add support for dynamic text on the Manta Detail page, including the Manta Meta Information Details
- Add Manta to the current Manta List if the user identifies a photo of one that is currently not in the list
- Add support for selecting multiple images at once when using the "Cloud" Image picker
- Bugfix to show Thumbnail images in the correct Aspect Ratio

### 1.0.22 — 2024-12-16

NEW IN THIS RELEASE:
- Use a larger manta thumbnail photo if the device size supports it
- Add support for dynamic text on the Manta Detail page
- Add Manta to the current Manta List if the user identifies a photo of one that is currently not in the list
- Add support for selecting multiple images at once when using the "Cloud" Image picker

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## Related topics

[manta mobile](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/manta-mobile) · [manta cares](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/manta-cares) · [rays sting](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/rays-sting)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-14.*
