Manta Point

Dive Site Highlights

Multiple cleaning stations at 5–15m where mantas circle predictably for close encounters; shallow depth (5–25m) allows long bottom times with mantas; year-round manta sightings with very high encounter rate

Marine Life You May Encounter

Giant oceanic manta rays (Manta birostris) — year-round residents with wingspans of 3–5m, they visit cleaning stations where wrasses remove parasites
Reef mantas — also present, smaller at 2–3m wingspan
Bamboo sharks hiding under rocks and in crevices
Blue-spotted stingrays resting on sandy patches
Octopus, moray eels and schools of surgeonfish and unicornfish
Boulder corals and table corals form the cleaning station structures

Dive Tips

Stay low and still near the cleaning stations — mantas are curious and may approach you if you remain calm
Avoid chasing or touching mantas — they will leave the area if disturbed and may not return for hours
Maintain good buoyancy control — the shallow depth and surge can make it easy to accidentally damage coral
The site can have swell in shallow water — equalise frequently and stay relaxed
Surface intervals can be bumpy due to the exposed southwest coast of Nusa Penida — take seasickness medication if prone
Do not block the mantas path as they approach cleaning stations — position yourself to the side and let them come to you

Underwater Photography

A wide-angle lens is essential — mantas are large subjects and you need a wide field of view to capture them in frame
Use natural light when possible — mantas at cleaning stations are often in shallow water (5–15m) where ambient light is abundant
Avoid using flash on mantas — sudden bright light can startle them and cause them to leave the cleaning station
Shoot from below looking up to silhouette the mantas against the surface light for dramatic shots
Be patient and let the mantas come to you — the best shots happen when a manta passes directly overhead at arms length
Set a fast shutter speed (1/250s+) to freeze motion as mantas can change direction quickly

About Manta Point

A well-known dive location in Bali.

Located in Nusa Penida, Manta Point is categorized as a Drift Dive, Wildlife dive site with typical depths around 5 - 25m. It is commonly explored by divers seeking to experience Bali's underwater environments, from natural reef structures to distinctive marine habitats shaped by local geography.