Manta Point Nusa Penida | BEST Scuba Diving near Bali
Manta Point is a bucket list dive destination. Here, you can experience diving alongside beautiful and graceful Manta Rays just an hour away from Bali. Not just one, but many of them. With good conditions, Manta Point is where you want to go to.
Manta Point is the point where the currents from the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean come together. Warm water meets cold water and that means it is filled with phytoplankton. Because plankton is the foundation of the food chain it brings every species to this dive site.
It is a cleaning station for these gentle giants, a spa for Manta Rays. Small fish wait around for them to come by to receive a feed of tiny parasites, algae, and any other organisms that may have attached themselves to the Manta Rays’ skin. Getting cleaned helps Manta Rays stay healthy and lowers their risk of infection.
They’ll show up day after day, and get pampered by the fish all while putting on an incredible show for us – the scuba divers! The Manta’s get clean, the fish get a meal and we get an amazing magical experience. Sit back and enjoy the Manta show!
Anybody going to Bali for a visit should most definitely consider heading out to Manta Point. If you dive, you can be sure that nothing beats seeing these enormous rays in a group gliding and swooping above your head.
Bring your camera and take some underwater pictures. You can be sure that this will be the event of a lifetime, something to tick off your bucket list. Ready to see the Manta? Come and diving in Nusa Penida with Scuba Center Asia and let’s dive into the wonders of this enchanting dive site.. !
You have an approximate 90% chance to encounter the spectacular Manta Ray show when you come and dive at Manta Point with Scuba Center Asia. Of course, as with anything natural, we can’t 100% guarantee they’ll be there, however, they have been consistent for decades.
Manta Point dive site location
Where is the best place to stay if I want to dive at Manta Point?
Nusa Lembongan Island offers the most strategic advantage for diving at Manta Point. Nusa Lembongan is a smaller island compared to Nusa Penida – perfect for a stay of a few days to weeks, and just a 20-minute boat ride to access Manta Point ensuring you spend more time underwater than in transit.
Scuba Center Asia is located in the heart of Mushroom Beach, one of the two main areas of Nusa Lembongan. The perfect location to get the fastest to the Manta Point dive site, plus for completing your first (or next) PADI Course. You’ll have access to a wide range of accommodations, restaurants, and sunset spots to really enhance your experience. Scooter rental is also available in Mushroom Beach for all your exploration needs.
If you’re ready to book your dive trip or have any further questions about diving at Manta Point, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to fulfilling your Manta dreams and helping you create memories that will last you a lifetime.
Dive site characteristics & local conditions at Manta Point dive site
The island experiences two seasons per year. The dry season falls between April and October offering better overall visibility, while the wet season falls between November and March with the rain causing the temperature to drop a little, but attracts a wide variety of marine life.
Ocean conditions can be influenced by currents, tides, swell, and weather. With this in mind, Manta Point continues to offer incredible experiences with Manta Rays in all divable conditions. We dive year round and both seasons offer magical opportunities to scuba dive with Manta Rays at this special location.
There are rare days of the year when we are unable to dive at Manta Point due to high swells, or unfavourable conditions. In this case we go to the north dive sites of Nusa Penida…
Visibility at Manta Point
Visibility is often very good at Manta Point. The region is known for crystal clear waters and on a good day visibility can reach 30m+ (100ft+). The visibility at Manta Point can drop randomly throughout the year as this dive site is located where the colder current from the south meets the warmer northern current. The meeting of these two currents is what creates the “cleaning station” phenomenon, providing a nutrient-dense space for marine life to thrive.
Water temperature at Manta Point
Water temperature at Manta Point tends to stay relatively warm throughout the year at an average temperature of 23 to 29 degrees Celsius (73 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit) with the occasional drop to about 18 to 23 degrees (64 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit). You’ll be very comfortable diving in these waters, especially when wearing a wetsuit.
Marine life at Manta Point Dive site
Unlike other destinations around the globe renowned for diving with Manta’s, Nusa Penida offers year-round opportunities to dive with these gentle giants. Manta Point is home to a very large population of Manta Rays and sightings of both species; the smaller variety of Reef Manta as well as the larger species of Oceanic Manta, are possible at Manta Point any time of the year.
Manta Point as research center
Manta Point at Nusa Penida is also the perfect spot for research. On Nusa Lembongan we have the Marine Mega Fauna Foundation research center who do a lot of research our “house reef manta’s”. Because of this beautiful research team we learn more and more about our Manta’s at Manta Point Nusa Penida.
In support of their continuing research Scuba Center Asia adopted their own Manta!
