About Manta Point
Manta Point is a world-renowned dive site located off the southern shore of Nusa Penida, famous as a cleaning station for oceanic manta rays. Sightings of these majestic creatures are almost guaranteed throughout the year, making it a top destination for divers and snorkelers alike. The dive itself is generally considered easy, as manta rays can often be observed in very shallow waters, around 5 meters, allowing even beginners to enjoy the spectacle. While the main attraction is the mantas, divers should be aware that conditions can sometimes be challenging, with strong waves, swell, and surge, particularly during winter months. The deeper parts of the site have also become a promising spot for encountering the elusive mola mola during their season from July to October. Responsible interaction with manta rays is emphasized here. Early morning dives are recommended to avoid crowds and enhance the experience.
Highlights
Guaranteed manta ray sightingsManta ray cleaning stationShallow manta encountersPotential mola mola sightingsSuitable for all levels
Season calendar
Best months to dive here
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Apr – Oct (Apr–Nov)
The dry season brings calm seas, 25–30m+ visibility, and strong currents that attract mantas, sharks, and pelagics to Komodo. Alor offers pristine reef diving with 20–40m visibility. Bali's Nusa Penida delivers Mola Mola encounters from July to October. Water temperatures range from 24–28°C — a 3mm or 5mm wetsuit is recommended.
Nov – Mar (Oct–Apr)
Raja Ampat peaks during the wet season with calmer seas, plankton-rich waters attracting manta rays, and excellent biodiversity. Water is a warm 28–30°C with 15–25m visibility. The Banda Sea opens its rare expedition window from September to December, with hammerhead sharks and pristine seamounts. Lembeh Strait offers world-class muck diving year-round. A 3mm wetsuit is sufficient.
Dive site facts: Manta Point
- Depth
- 5–25 m
- Current
- Moderate
- Entry
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Level
- Beginner
- Dive type
- Reef, Reef
- Region / port
- Bali
- Coordinates
- 8.8142° S, 115.5137° E
Conditions & Currents
Moderate currents can run here, so plan drift entries and stay close to the group. Dive profiles here run between roughly 5 and 25 metres, so plan your gas and no-decompression limits around the deeper part of the site. It is usually briefed as a dive for beginner divers. It can be dived from a liveaboard or a day boat, depending on where you start the trip. Tide, wind and season all shift the picture from day to day, so the crew's briefing on the boat always overrides any general description.
Why dive Manta Point from a liveaboard?
Manta Point is one of Bali's signature dive sites. A liveaboard sleeps you on the water and puts you in the water for three to four guided dives per day, including dawn and night dives that day-boat operators rarely offer. You skip the daily commute back to port and reach quieter, less-crowded sites in the same region on a single trip.
Below are the liveaboards that include Manta Point on their Bali itineraries.
Liveaboards diving Manta Point
These liveaboards may visit Manta Point on selected itineraries, the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.
Naga Biru
Indonesia
12 guests40 m
Ilike
Indonesia
16 guests40 m
Mermaid I
Alor
15 guests28 m
Sunshine Liveaboard
Indonesia
10 guests31 m
Tiare Cruise
Indonesia
12 guests37 m
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