Sangalaki Manta Point

The manta traffic works the sites along Sangalaki's east coast: Manta Avenue, a set of coral steps where fire gobies and dancing gobies sit between the rays; Manta Parade, where ridges rise and fall like low underwater hills; and Manta Run, with rocky coral outcrops and bommies carrying gorgonian fans, soft corals and barrel sponges. The reef starts at around 10 m and the ground off it falls away beyond 40 m.

Most of the diving stays shallow, because that is where the rays are. Reef mantas feed near the surface with their gills wide open on the rich plankton these waters carry; they also cruise mid-water and, less often, forage down on the sea bed. They are generally inquisitive and will probably approach you, so an encounter is usually a matter of settling on the reef and letting them come around rather than chasing them. Six or seven at once is not unusual.

Current is moderate. Visibility swings between 8 and 30 m and averages about 20 m, and the water sits at 28-30 C. Diving and weather conditions around Sangalaki are steady and fine throughout the year, and the manta rays, turtles and stingless jellyfish of the area are all reported in every month, so there is no season to plan the dive around.