Manta Point · Nusa Penida

The story

Where the mantas queue up.

Manta Point is the cleaning station that put Nusa Penida on the global diving map. The reef sits 18–22 metres on a sandy slope just east of Manta Bay. Resident reef mantas visit daily — sometimes one or two, often four to six, occasionally a dozen — and queue patiently above the cleaning station while wrasses and butterflyfish remove parasites from their gills and bellies.

You settle on the sand at the edge of the cleaning station, lower your bubbles, and watch the line form. Year-round reliability, with peak season in the wet months (Dec–Apr) when plankton blooms thicken the water and the mantas spend longer at the station.

"Mantas at the cleaning station. Sit still and watch."

AOWD recommended for the depth and the boat journey from the mainland. The sea on Penida's south coast can be rough on the surface — expect a 30–45 minute speedboat trip with swell.

Topography

How the dive unfolds.

Reef cleaning station at 18–22 m on a sandy slope. Drop in, settle on the sand at the edge, hold position, watch the mantas circle in.

Plan a typical 45–55 min dive: negative entry, descend to 22 m on the cleaning station, settle 5 m off the reef and hold, ascend gradually, safety stop at 5 m mid-water with SMB.

Marine life · what you might see

The ocean's not a zoo.

Sightings are pure chance — current, season, time of day, and luck. Below is what divers spot at this site, but no operator can guarantee any specific encounter on any specific dive.

Resident Reef mantas (year-round) 95%

Resident Cleaner wrasse 100%

Visitor Eagle rays 25%

Visitor Sea turtles 55%

Resident Schooling fusiliers 90%

Visitor Whitetip reef sharks (rare) 15%

Visitor Bumphead parrotfish 25%

Resident Bannerfish 90%

Resident Pyramid butterflyfish 90%

Resident Anthias clouds 85%

Resident Moray eels 70%

Resident Nudibranchs 70%

Resident Hard coral plateau 100%

Resident Soft corals 100%

Resident Gorgonian fans 80%

Resident Sponges 100%

Always-presentThe cleaning station, mantas (almost guaranteed), cleaner wrasse, fusiliers.

Sometimes-presentEagle rays, sea turtles, bumpheads, the rare whitetip passing through.

Practical

What you need.

01 · Cert

Certification

AOWD recommended. Penida currents can be unpredictable; OW divers stay shallow with the guide.

02 · Entry

Entry · Distance

Boat dive. ~45 min from Sanur or Padang Bai by speedboat. Negative entry.

03 · Flow

Currents

Moderate to strong. Drift dives are the norm at Penida. SMB mandatory, stay close to your guide.

04 · When

Best time of day

Morning slack tide window (07:00–09:00). Currents pick up sharply with tide changes.

05 · Fees

Penida marine fee

Nusa Penida MPA fee ~50,000 IDR (€3) per diver per day — included in your PMD safari price.

06 · Schedule

Surface intervals

Two-tank Penida day-trip standard. Lunch on the boat or on Lembongan beach between dives.

Ready?

Dive Manta Point
on a Nusa Penida safari.

All-inclusive: flights, transfers, villa, dives, food, marine fees. Two-tank Nusa Penida day with this site as part of the rotation.

Plan Your Trip ← All Nusa Penida sites