Manta Point (Batu Meling)

A shallow limestone bommie on Penida's exposed south coast where mantas queue to be cleaned. Reliable animals, unreliable conditions. Go on the first boat of the day or accept the crowd.

Depth

5–20m

Current

Moderate

Diver level

Open water

Entry

Boat

Unique features

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
Faces the open Indian Ocean — surge and swell are routine and operators cancel outright in big seas
Boat traffic here rose 153% between 2012 and 2017; 35-40 boats can arrive at once from mid-morning

Sources & last checked

Checked August 2026

This is a researched draft, not yet human-verified. The seasonality and logistics are drawn from the sources below — confirm specifics (permits, fees, closures) with an operator before you book.

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.