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A stunning view of manta rays swimming gracefully in the clear waters of Bali, Indonesia.
📷 Elianne Dipp · Pexels

Irvin's Mantas

3.6 — based on 18 community signals
4.2 12 species 22 contributors

Irvin's Mantas is a year-round dive site in Indonesia's Raja Ampat region, known for manta encounters and tropical marine life.

⭐ Best for intermediate divers chasing chasing pelagics.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Intermediate
Pelagic hotspotBleachingRiskPhotoFriendlyBoatOnly
+1 more
CurrentVaries

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
intermediate
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Manta ray, Hawksbill turtle

Map

This spot Airport Nearby spots
Irvin's Mantas location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
7.6 kn
Wave
0.26 m
Water
28.3°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: SSE (72%)
Now: SSE (161°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.87m

Next: Low at 04:00 (+0.37m)

+1.0 m+0.1 m
▼ 04:00 · +0.37m ▲ 07:00 · +0.41m ▼ 13:00 · +0.24m ▲ 21:00 · +0.71m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV6.4 · high Air PM2.527 · moderate 06:08 18:15
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 8.3 0.36 6 0mm
09-20 8.6 0.32 8 0mm
09-21 9.4 0.34 9 0mm
09-22 9.2 0.38 8 1mm
09-23 5.6 0.22 8 2mm
09-24 7.4 0.2 9 2mm
09-25 6.5 0.22 8 7mm
⚠ Coral bleaching: Watch — favorable conditions

About this spot

Irvin's Mantas sits in Raja Ampat, one of the world's richest marine zones. The site centers on Taporiswek Tengah Island in Southwest Papua and attracts divers seeking manta ray encounters. Year-round conditions mean you can plan your trip around your schedule, not seasonal windows. Marine life here reflects the Coral Triangle's biodiversity. Twelve documented species observations confirm consistent encounters with reef fish, rays, and other tropical marine fauna. The site remains outside protected marine areas, so conditions can vary. Community footage—three videos on file—shows the character of dives here and helps set expectations before you book. Coral bleaching warrants attention; check current conditions before travel. Water clarity, depths, and technical demands shift seasonally, so confirm specifics with local operators familiar with Irvin's Mantas. Raja Ampat's infrastructure is solid, but planning ahead prevents surprises.

📖 Guide: Diving in Indonesia: 323 Sites, Mantas to Micro-critters

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Manta rayHawksbill turtle

Dive types

ReefBoat

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type C/F · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 12763km · ~2935kg · €53

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 54/100
  • Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
  • Flight: 12h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 12h east · 8 days recovery

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Irvin's Mantas?

Irvin's Mantas is diveable year-round. Weather and water conditions vary by season across Raja Ampat, so contact local dive operators for current conditions and optimal windows for your skill level.

What depth and difficulty should I expect?

Specific depth and difficulty data for Irvin's Mantas are not documented. Consult operators in Raja Ampat who know the site's current conditions before booking.

What marine life will I see?

Twelve species observations are recorded at Irvin's Mantas, including manta rays. Tropical reef fish and other fauna consistent with Raja Ampat's Coral Triangle setting are common. Community videos provide real-world footage of encounters.

Do I need permits or special access?

Irvin's Mantas is not inside a marine protected area, but Indonesia requires valid dive certifications and travel documentation. Contact local Raja Ampat operators for current permit requirements and booking procedures.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

35 records · 28 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Holothuria

Holothuroidea · Holothuriidae
OBIS
Last seen:
18 Aug 1899
×1records

Synaptula

Holothuroidea · Synaptidae
OBIS
Last seen:
18 Aug 1899
×1records

Composetia marmorata

Polychaeta · Nereididae
OBIS
Last seen:
17 Aug 1899
×1records

Ophialcaea tuberculosa

Ophiuroidea · Ophiacanthidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 1899
×1records
Depth:
798 m

Ophiosphalma elegans

Ophiuroidea · Ophiosphalmidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 1899
×1records
Depth:
798 m

Ophiacantha levispina

Ophiuroidea · Ophiacanthidae
OBIS
Last seen:
1 Jan 1899
×1records
Depth:
798 m

Chloeia flava

Polychaeta · Amphinomidae
OBIS
Last seen:
Invalid Date
×3records

Aphrodita malayana

Polychaeta · Aphroditidae
OBIS
Last seen:
Invalid Date
×3records
Depth:
798 m

Laetmonice malayana

Polychaeta · Aphroditidae
OBIS
Last seen:
Invalid Date
×2records

Owenia collaris

Polychaeta · Oweniidae
OBIS
Last seen:
Invalid Date
×2records

Polyodontes atromarginatus

Polychaeta · Acoetidae
OBIS
Last seen:
Invalid Date
×2records

Nereis abyssicola

Polychaeta · Nereididae
OBIS
Last seen:
Invalid Date
×1records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Steve Irwin Meets The World's Most Venomous Snakes | Real Wild

Real Wild
💬 3 top comments
  • 10 most deadly snakes in the world Steve Irwin: Fortunately they all live here

    @Gav24 · 👍 9900
  • "you think this boy is dangerous? you should see what i have in me shed!" most Australian sentence i ever heard so far.

    @hey1293 · 👍 11000
  • 2000: scared for dude's life. Sitting on edge of seat 2019: knows dude is dead, still scared for his life

    @kixonic · 👍 2000

Derawan Dive

Rizanoel Irvin

Steve Irwin last minute video

MiRoO Da bEsT
💬 3 top comments
  • To ANYONE posting all of these fake videos please stop. It's extremely heartless. The only footage was destroyed. You will never see the actual footage. Leave his death and family alone.

    @laurastinson7325 · 👍 1000
  • Yeah this is fake the stingray was hiding in the sand and Steve almost stepped on it when all of a sudden the Barb swung up and struck him right in the chest The cameraman who was with him at the time this happened said he thinks that the stingray thought that Steve’s shadow was a shark approaching

    @zachdoster1206 · 👍 582
  • ALERT: video is fake he swam over the stingray

    @sahircarpio98 · 👍 433
wind peaks Feb-Aug-Jul, calmest Oct-Apr-Jun.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)

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