What Does Pelagic Mean?
The word pelagic generally refers to marine species that spend their time roaming the open ocean, as opposed to residing on the reefs. This includes fish species like tuna, mackerel, jacks, marlin, barracuda, as well as cetaceans–whales and dolphins–and other marine mammals like seals and sea lions. Mantas, sharks, and most other elasmobranchs will also be considered pelagic. We can even lump sea turtles into the pelagic category, as most species will spend a significant part of their lives roaming the open sea.
Why are Pelagics Special?
Ever since cameras started going underwater, pelagic species like sharks, turtles, mantas, and marine mammals like whales and dolphins have routinely taken center stage in natural history productions and on the covers of wildlife magazines for their enigmatic qualities. Like many of you, I was introduced to the wondrous personalities of these pelagic species through videos and photos, whether it be in a magazine, online, or on television. I was enamored by each species’ unique persona as they danced across the screen or pages I was thumbing through, and I was desperate to meet them face to face in their natural habitat–the ocean. Suffice it to say, pelagics are very likely the reason a lot of us continue to jump in the water day after day, year after year, kitted out in mask and snorkel.
The more we learn about many of these species–take sharks for example, who have been basted with the stigma of being cold-blooded killers, we’re quickly learning that’s not at all true, and swimming alongside most shark species and other stigmatized species is a safe and exhilarating experience! Additionally, marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, and sea lions are widely recognized as sentient beings. What this often means is that interactions with these intelligent and self-aware animals can be far more profound than a casual encounter. When a whale or dolphin stops to look at you, you can feel their gaze deep within you—studying you. When one of these cetaceans accepts you as a non-threatening being and begins to interact with you, that’s a conscious decision the animal had to make and process through cognitive decision-making. There are no words to truly describe how amazing it is to have a wild animal seek you out and then choose to interact with you on their terms.
In the case of fish species like jacks, tuna, or marlin, they may not have the brain power of a whale or dolphin, but “these fish ain’t no dummies,” as my colleague Lydia would say. Giant trevally and bluefin trevally have tactical hunting patterns and are not too dissimilar to wolves or Africa’s wild dogs in how they corral and divide their prey. Mexico’s Sardine Run brings in dense shoals of sardine and mackerel, along with striped marlin that hunt these little fish. As you watch the striped marlin hunt the schools of mackerel and sardines, you’ll quickly see that the marlin rapidly flash their luminous scales just before darting into the bait balls. It’s thought that the marlin flash like this as a signal to one another, letting the other marlin circling the bait ball from below know that they’re going in for a quick bite!
What to Expect from Pelagic Encounters
There are certain pelagic species you can encounter on or very close to reefs, like sea turtles, some jack fish species like giant trevally when they come into hunt, a few types of reef sharks, and mantas when they come to get cleaned on cleaning stations, but most of your pelagic encounters will happen in the open blue water. As the vast majority of pelagic marine life doesn’t rely on reefs for habitat, reproduction, or food, you’ll need to pull your focus from the reefs and switch your attention to the deep blue.
Depending on the species and the behavior, your encounters can vary quite a bit. Pelagic fish like jacks will generally roam just off the reef in the blue. Most encounters with these fellas will be brief as they patrol up and down the edges of the reef in search of their next meal. However, if you happen to be in the vicinity of their food source, such as large schools of fusileers or scads, you might get lucky with a more exhilarating and prolonged encounter as they corral their prey into tight schools and tactically pierce the ball of fish. Other exciting pelagic encounters close to the reef could include reef sharks as they casually cruise along the reef top and edges, and turtles as they rest or munch on the corals. If you’re patient with the turtles, you might get a nice face-to-face with one as they slowly rise to the surface for a breath. My personal favorite pelagic species to find around reefy areas is mantas. These winged beauties are pure magic to watch as they gracefully glide through the water, especially if you find them feeding or cleaning!
With manta rays–and other highly intelligent species–it’s always best to have a bit of patience, as interactions have to take place on their terms. We call these passive interactions. If you try to force the encounter, nine times out of ten, the manta will give you a wide berth before disappearing into the blue. Some mantas will have their pace set on cruise control as they move from point A to point B, and your time with them will be over before you really have a chance to realize what’s happening. In instances like this, just count yourself lucky for being able to see the fish with the largest brain.
If you happen to get lucky and find one or more feeding or cleaning, these are moments you will want to savor. Depending on the depth of the cleaning station, the mantas might be a bit on the deep side by comparison to the more staple reef creatures you’re used to enjoying, with depths varying from five to twelve meters (fifteen to thirty feet). Not to worry, mantas are big, measuring three to five meters (ten to fifteen feet), and are very easy to see even at these depths. Watching the cleaning behavior is great fun and interesting, especially if there is more than one, as you’ll be able to watch their queuing behavior as they take turns coming in for a little bath time. Sometimes their curiosity will get the better of them, and they’ll take a quick break from the cleaning station and pop up to the surface to give us snorkelers an inquisitive glance and a wave of their mighty wings!
For me, the ultimate manta encounter is when they’re feeding or courting, as this almost always involves multiple mantas right up on the surface, or just beneath it, and the intensity dial has been turned up to eleven! All their inhibitions have been left in the blue, as their primary objective is to either siphon up as much of the plankton as possible, or to be the best dancer in the courtship ballet the mantas seem to perform. Whatever the case, the mantas will very likely involve you in their feeding and courting behavior with elegance and grace.
For the more pelagic pelagics, like dolphins, whales, mobulas, sea lions, marlins, and whatever else we happen to come across in the blue desert that is the open ocean, patience and perseverance are paramount! The ocean really is much like a desert, in that most of these species are relatively solitary creatures, spread out, and locating these nomadic ocean wanderers can be a bit tedious at times. Much like fishing, you can spend hours looking for the telltale signs of life, or it can all happen just after leaving the harbor. However much time goes by though, once you get you get the “GO GO GO!” from the captain or guide and are suddenly floating over a fleet of several hundred mobulas, a fencing guild of marlin, or a mother humpback whale and its curious calf, the time spent swimming alongside these wondrous animals is, for me and other like minded snorkelers, like nothing else I’ve ever experienced with the residents of the reefs. The way these enigmatic beauties congregate in masses, hunt, or involve you in whatever underwater behavior they happen to be performing can bring tears to the eyes.
Where to Find Pelagics
In every single one of the countries we run snorkeling tours to, you can predictably encounter a variety of pelagic species. Here’s a quick list of where you can find particular species. Remember, pelagics spend their time roaming the open ocean, and the ocean is rather large, so a bit of patience is required.
Indonesia is a fantastic place to encounter pelagics, and with so many different destinations across the country, there’s a wide array of pelagic species you can come across. Some of the more iconic species people rave about are the mantas, turtles, and various species of jack fish, like the giant and bluefin trevally.
As the world’s first shark sanctuary, protecting not only the shark species within Palau’s waters but also all elasmobranchs, including manta rays, Palau is a fantastic place to encounter pelagics. Several species of sharks, turtles, barracudas, jacks, and manta rays can be seen on the surface or just beneath it!
Given its truly remote nature, far removed from the effects of commercial tourism, the Solomons can be a great place to swim with different pelagic species, from bigeye jacks, sea turtles, sharks, and even mantas.
For years, the Maldives have been a very popular destination to encounter a wide variety of pelagics. Even though the Maldives is a small country made up of a few tiny islands, it holds the world’s largest population of reef manta rays! Whale sharks are not uncommon, along with other species of sharks and rays, like the eagle ray.
The Silver Banks off the Dominican Republic host the largest seasonal population of North Atlantic humpback whales. With only three operators permitted to snorkel in the Silver Banks, and an estimated 5-7,000 whales congregating here each year, it makes for some truly mind-blowing encounters with humpback whales!
There is no better place in the world for predictable pelagic encounters. Every day on the water is different, and every month seems to bring in a new species for its seasonal migration. I’ve had some pretty magical experiences with pelagics around the world, but every time I visit Mexico for a trip, I inevitably end up having the best encounters of my life!
Egypt is a great country to encounter a variety of pelagic species. Off of most of the reefs, you can expect turtles, jacks, barracuda, and the odd reef shark. But what’s really amazing about Egypt is its population of dolphins, who seem to seek out snorkelers! Also, in a few select areas, you can predictably find feeding dugongs.
Belize, in my opinion, is very much underrated as a pelagic destination. It is an amazing place for species like eagle rays and other large stingrays. More so than any other place we visit, actually. There are also reasonable chances to swim with a curious pod of dolphins and spot numerous sharks. We’ve even had great hammerheads pass by on multiple occasions!
Snorkeling with pelagic species such as sharks, whales, sea lions, marlin, manta rays, and turtles is a profoundly unique experience that transcends the ordinary. These unique species exhibit remarkable underwater behavior, from the elegant piroetts of mantas as they feed and court, the calculated hunting tactics of jacks and marlin, to the cognitive displays of interest and acceptance by cetaceans. As a result, each interaction is distinct, shaped by the personality and behavior of the creature you encounter, making every encounter an unrepeatable adventure. However, the unpredictability of these encounters adds to their allure; one may spend time waiting in anticipation, yet the moment a mighty whale locks eyes with you or a playful sea lion approaches can be life-changing. The feeling of being part of their world, even for a fleeting moment, fosters a deep connection to marine life that is both humbling and exhilarating. Such experiences remind us of the awe-inspiring beauty of nature, leaving a lasting impression and a renewed appreciation for the ocean’s incredible inhabitants.
