Nusa Penida · Indonesia · Reef

Manta Point

A manta cleaning station in 15 metres under limestone cliffs

Manta Point, also known as Batu Lumbung, is a bay on the southern side of Nusa Penida ringed by limestone cliffs, with a coral slope and a maximum depth of 15 metres. Manta rays use a cleaning station here and can be seen year round, with the best chances from March to June, which makes it the shallow, easy dive of the Nusa Penida day.

Also known as Batu Lumbung.

Where it is and how deep

Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

8.7985° S, 115.5295° EPublished position for this site.

The dive

The site is a shallow bay with limestone cliffs all around it and a slope of good coral below, and the whole dive fits inside 15 metres. There is no current to speak of, which is what makes it an easy dive site, and the shallow profile means air lasts and you can hold one position rather than covering ground. Boats reach it in a few minutes from the dive centres on Nusa Lembongan, which is why the early slots go first.

The manta rays are the point, and they come to a cleaning station rather than passing through, so the approach is to settle low over the coral, stay still, and let them work the station on their own terms. Sightings are not guaranteed on any given day, and without the mantas there is not a great deal else here. Keep half an eye on the surface as the dive runs on: later in the day the sea can become choppy and the visibility drops off.

Marine life and season

Manta rays

Month-by-month season rating for Manta Point
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good

Manta rays can be seen year round; the best chances are from March to June, unlike the rest of Nusa Penida where August to October is the draw.

Know before you go

The site is very popular and often crowded, which puts several boats and their divers over one shallow cleaning station. Go early and keep track of your own group.
Conditions deteriorate through the day: the sea can become choppy and visibility gets worse, so morning slots are the ones worth taking.

Photos from Manta Point

Tilonaut · CC BY 3.0
ito1117 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Dive videos

Manta Point - Nusa Penida Bali Diving (HD) · Bali Diving on YouTube

Questions divers ask

What time of year should I dive Manta Point?+

Manta rays can be seen year round, and the best chances are from March to June. That is the opposite of the rest of Nusa Penida, where August to October brings the mola mola, so the two headline animals fall in different halves of the year.

How deep is Manta Point?+

Maximum depth is 15 metres, over a coral slope inside a bay ringed by limestone cliffs. The shallow profile keeps bottom time long, which is part of why the site works for watching mantas at a cleaning station rather than chasing them.

Is Manta Point suitable for new divers?+

The site itself is shallow and has essentially no current, which makes it an easy dive. Nusa Penida as a whole is a different matter: currents around the islands are strong and unpredictable, and the area is not recommended for inexperienced divers.