Dive site · access from Nusa Penida
Manta Point (Batu Meling)
A shallow limestone bommie on Penida's exposed south coast where mantas queue to be cleaned.
- Depth
- 5–20m
- Current
- Moderate
- Minimum level
- Open water
- Access
- Boat
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The case for it
Why dive here
- Reef manta cleaning station at 10-12m; cleaning accounted for 59% of observed behaviour in a 2012-2018 photo-ID study, with courtship peaking April-May
- Boat traffic here rose 153% between 2012 and 2017; 35-40 boats can arrive at once from mid-morning
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What may rule it out
- Faces the open Indian Ocean — surge and swell are routine and operators cancel outright in big seas
- Moderate current can affect whether the site is suitable on the day.
Access and timing
Plan this through Nusa Penida
Best overall months: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Check the destination planner for operating season, wildlife and other matching sites.
Wildlife
Seen around Nusa Penida
rareoccasionalcommonly seenpeak seasondestination closed
These are destination-level records, not confirmed sightings at Manta Point (Batu Meling).
Giant sunfish (bump-head mola)
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | occasional |
| August | peak season |
| September | peak season |
| October | peak season |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Reef manta ray
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | peak season |
| May | peak season |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Pelagic thresher shark
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Bumphead parrotfish
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Hawksbill turtle
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Nearby alternatives
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Sources & last checked
Checked August 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.
View 1 source and checking notes
- Contrasting Habitat Use and Population Dynamics of Reef Manta Rays Within the Nusa Penida MPA, Frontiers in Marine Science
Note on the data: Coordinates are approximate; not surveyed dive-site GPS.