Mantas feed on plankton, including small fishes and squid. They usually have opportunistic remoras attached to their undersides, looking for scraps that result from the feeding of the mantas, and for protection.

Their behavior with divers is unique—they usually let divers approach them, and seem to enjoy the feeling of air bubbles on their bodies. There is disagreement about riding mantas. Some people believe it should be discouraged, whereas others believe that the closeness with the animal may promote the caring and conservation of these animals as perhaps it has in the case of some whales.

The patterns of spots or white patches on mantas' bodies have been used as fingerprints to identify individuals.

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