How do you tell individual mantas apart? I am so glad you asked! Manta ID is done by looking at the spot patterns on their bellies. As I dove down to get a closer look at a different manta ray, this one named Manta Ria decided to swim right at me, veering up and away at the last moment, as if to show off her spots and let me know who she was. Manta Ria greeted me on the first manta dive of two different trips, separated by nearly a year in time. She either likes me, or is just extra curious... but I think I'm going to stick with the first one.