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Majestic manta ray swimming with vibrant fish in Bali, Indonesia's ocean reef.
📷 Sergio Monsalve · Pexels

Manta Ridge

3.5 — based on 14 community signals
4.1 12 species 16 contributors

Manta Ridge is a year-round Indonesian dive destination known for manta encounters and healthy coral ecosystems.

⭐ Best for intermediate divers chasing chasing pelagics.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Intermediate
PhotoFriendlyPelagic hotspotBleachingRiskCurrentVaries

At a glance

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

Map

This spot POIs Airport Nearby spots
Manta Ridge location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
2.9 kn
Wave
0.18 m
Water
28.4°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: SE (30%)
Now: SE (143°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1m

Next: Low at 04:00 (+0.31m)

+1.0 m0 m+0.0 m
▼ 04:00 · +0.31m ▲ 09:00 · +0.41m ▼ 14:00 · +0.3m ▲ 22:00 · +0.75m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV8.65 · very high Air PM2.522 · moderate 06:08 18:14
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 7.4 0.32 9 1mm
09-20 7.8 0.3 9 0mm
09-21 8.1 0.34 9 0mm
09-22 6.3 0.3 9 1mm
09-23 7.7 0.14 9 6mm
09-24 7.3 0.12 9 4mm
09-25 4.8 0.14 9 5mm
⚠ Coral bleaching: Watch — favorable conditions
DHW: 0.9°C-weeks · NOAA Coral Reef Watch

About this spot

Manta Ridge delivers consistent manta ray sightings in Indonesian waters, making it a prime target for divers seeking these graceful filter feeders. The site has generated 12 documented species observations and 3 community videos, giving you real footage of what others have found there. Year-round access means you can plan a trip almost any time, though seasonal swells and currents will shift the dive character. The ridge structure funnels plankton and baitfish, which attracts mantas on predictable feeding patterns. This predictability is rare in diving and worth planning around. You'll encounter the site outside a marine protected area, so regulations are lighter than some Indonesian alternatives, but that also means conservation depends on responsible diver behavior. Current coral bleaching monitoring flags this region as a watch zone—not a crisis, but worth knowing. Healthy coral reefs typically correlate with stable fish populations and clear water. Bring a good reef camera or video setup; the community content suggests dramatic manta encounters are frequent enough to document.

📖 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 ray

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 ↔ 12744km · ~2931kg · €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 Manta Ridge?

Year-round diving is possible. The site offers consistent conditions across seasons, though local swells and current strength vary monthly. Check recent trip reports before booking to match your skill level with seasonal water movement.

What depth and difficulty level is Manta Ridge?

Specific depth and difficulty ratings are not publicly documented for this site. Contact local dive operators in the area for current conditions, depth ranges, and recommended experience levels before committing to a trip.

What marine life will I see?

Manta rays are the signature draw. Twelve documented species observations confirm diverse fish and coral life beyond the mantas. Community videos confirm the encounters are real and frequent enough to record consistently.

Do I need permits or certifications to dive Manta Ridge?

The site sits outside a marine protected area, so MPA permits are not required. Standard dive certification from recognized training agencies applies. Check with local operators for any regional requirements or operator-specific prerequisites.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

24 records · 12 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Eunicidae

Polychaeta · Eunicidae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Jul 1979
×3records
Depth:
6–12 m

Nannastacus

Malacostraca · Nannastacidae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Jul 1979
×2records
Depth:
12 m

Hapalocarcinus marsupialis

Malacostraca · Cryptochiridae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Jul 1979
×1records
Depth:
6 m

Linckia laevigata

Asteroidea · Ophidiasteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Jul 1979
×1records
Depth:
6 m

Synaptula

Holothuroidea · Synaptidae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Jul 1979
×1records
Depth:
6 m

Parasalenia gratiosa

Echinoidea · Parasaleniidae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Jul 1979
×1records
Depth:
6 m

Fromia indica

Asteroidea · Goniasteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Jul 1979
×1records
Depth:
12 m

Nudibranchia

Gastropoda
OBIS
Last seen:
2 Jul 1979
×1records
Depth:
12 m

Protoreaster nodosus

Chocolate Chip Seastar
Asteroidea · Oreasteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
Invalid Date
×4records

Thyca crystallina

Gastropoda · Eulimidae
OBIS
Last seen:
Invalid Date
×4records

Linckia laevigata

Blue seastar
Asteroidea · Ophidiasteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
Invalid Date
×3records

Conus litteratus

Gastropoda · Conidae
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.

Playing with Giant Manta Rays in Indonesia

Motor City Scuba and Snorkel

Raja Ampat | Manta Ridge Spectacle - A Dive With Gentle Giants | Indonesia | 4K HDR | 2024

Diver's Lens
💬 1 top comments
  • Wow! What a beautiful show! What good visibility and how close you had them! What good luck! Congratulations!😄

    @JUANMONTEREY · 👍 1

Diving In Indonesia | Close Encounters With Oceanic Mantas At Manta Ridge | Raja Ampat, WEST PAPUA

IndonesiaDiving2020
wind peaks Feb-Jan-Mar, calmest May-Apr-Jun.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Jul (100/100) Worst: Dec (0/100) Now: Sep (62/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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