The World's Greatest Manta Ray Encounter
In the nutrient-rich waters south of Komodo Island, where deep oceanic currents surge upward against a shallow reef plateau, one of nature's most magnificent spectacles unfolds daily — the graceful ballet of giant oceanic manta rays. Manta Point, known locally as Makassar Reef South, is recognized by marine biologists and diving experts as one of the top three manta ray encounter sites on the planet. Here, in water that ranges from 5 to 15 metres deep, mantas with wingspans exceeding 5 metres glide effortlessly through the warm tropical current, their enormous diamond-shaped bodies moving with a balletic precision that belies their massive size.
What makes Manta Point so consistently productive is its function as a cleaning station. The reef here is populated by tiny cleaner wrasse and butterflyfish that feed on parasites clinging to the mantas' skin, gills, and mouths. The mantas actively seek out these stations, hovering almost motionless above the coral — sometimes for 20 minutes or more — while small fish work their way across their immense bodies. For snorkellers floating on the surface above, this behaviour creates extraordinary encounters: a manta the size of a small car, rising slowly through the blue water directly beneath you, its cavernous mouth agape, its cephalic fins unfurling like gentle horns to channel plankton into its gill rakers. The eye — intelligent, curious, ancient — meets yours for a fleeting second that stretches into eternity.
Manta Point delivers sightings year-round, though the best months are typically between April and November when water temperatures are slightly cooler and plankton concentrations are highest. During peak season, it is not uncommon to see five, ten, or even twenty mantas circling the cleaning station simultaneously — a phenomenon that veteran travellers call the "manta cyclone". The species found here is predominantly the Mobula alfredi (reef manta ray), though the much larger Mobula birostris (oceanic manta ray) has been documented at the site during transitional seasons. This concentration of megafauna, combined with easy accessibility from the surface, makes Manta Point equally rewarding for first-time snorkellers and experienced freedivers alike.
Aboard Behike Cruise, the Manta Point experience is treated with the reverence it deserves. Our captain reads the current and tidal conditions to select the optimal entry time, while our experienced guides brief you on respectful manta etiquette — no touching, no chasing, no flash photography. You enter the water quietly, float in the current, and let the mantas come to you. It is a lesson in patience rewarded by pure wonder. After your encounter, return to the phinisi for warm ginger tea, fresh towels, and a chef- prepared lunch as the boat sets course for the next adventure. Many guests describe swimming with mantas at this site as the single most profound wildlife experience of their lives — and one that will forever change the way they think about the ocean.