Manta Rays in Komodo
Manta Point & Best Season Guide 2026

⚡ Manta Point Komodo (Karang Makassar) — The Complete Dive Guide

Also known as

Karang Makassar

Zone

Central Komodo

Depth

5m – 16m

Dive type

Drift dive (mild–moderate)

Level

Open Water+ (current briefing)

Snorkeling

Yes — when conditions allow

Best time

⭐ Nov–Jun (Central peak)

Year-round

✓ Resident manta population

About Manta Point — Karang Makassar

Manta Point — officially Karang Makassar — is a long, shallow rubble plateau scattered with coral bommies in the Central zone of Komodo National Park. When the current picks up, mantas ride the flow in a near-continuous procession, hovering above the cleaning stations where small cleaner fish remove parasites from their skin and gills. It is one of the most reliably manta-productive sites in Southeast Asia.

The site's shallow profile — starting at just 5 metres — makes it exceptional for photographers looking for silhouette shots with the surface light, and for snorkelers who can observe feeding mantas from directly above.

What you'll see

The resident population of Mobula alfredi (Reef Manta Ray) is the headline act — individual mantas with wingspans of 3 to 5 metres circling slowly over the coral heads. Beyond mantas, the reef holds sea turtles, white-tip reef sharks, eagle rays passing in the blue water column, and dense schools of giant trevally shadowing the plateau edges. In the rubble and sand patches, cuttlefish and stonefish reward photographers who slow down.

Currents and conditions

Manta Point is a drift dive — the current does most of the work. Flow is typically mild to moderate, making it one of Komodo's more forgiving drift dives for Open Water certified divers. Our guides monitor tidal charts daily and brief every diver on entry timing, hand signals and pick-up procedure before getting in. On stronger-current days, the site is still diveable from a different entry angle. Snorkeling is approved when surface conditions are calm.

🐟 Manta Season in Komodo — When & Where

Komodo has two distinct manta zones with overlapping seasons. Understanding the difference determines which option — day trip or liveaboard — is right for you.

November is the sweet spot — both zones are simultaneously active, the park is at its quietest, water temperature is warm at 27–29°C, and prices are lower than peak season. If you want to target both Manta Point and Manta Alley on a single trip, the Shenron liveaboard is the only option.

⏱️ Your Day Trip — What to Expect

Here's how a typical day looks when Manta Point is on the itinerary. We depart early to be first in the water before the site gets busy.

• 

  06:00 — Breakfast at the resort

  A full breakfast is served at Dragon Dive Komodo before departure. Dive briefing materials and the day's site plan are shared over coffee.

• 

  07:00 — Departure from Labuan Bajo

  Board the dive boat at the harbour. Safety briefing on board, equipment check, and a 45-minute transit through the park towards Central Komodo.

• 

  09:00 — First dive

  Into the water at the first site. On Manta Point days this is typically Karang Makassar or a nearby warm-up site, conditions depending.

• 

  10:30 — Snack & debrief

  Surface interval on the boat. Review the dive, share photos, and receive the briefing for dive two while snacking on tropical fruit and local bites.

• 

  11:00 — Second dive

  The second site is chosen to complement the first — often Mawan cleaning station or a coral garden nearby, depending on current and visibility.

• 

  12:30 — Fresh lunch on board

  A full Indonesian lunch is served on deck. Nasi goreng, grilled fish, fresh salad — fuel up before the final dive while enjoying the national park views.

• 

  13:00 — Third dive

  The final dive of the day — often a reef or macro site chosen based on what the team wants to see. The guides take requests here if conditions allow.

• 

  16:30 — Return to resort

  Back at Dragon Dive Komodo by late afternoon. Log your dives at the dive centre, rinse gear at the tank station, and relax poolside with a cold drink.

🗓️ How to Dive Manta Point Komodo

Manta Point is included on our daily 3-dive day trips from Labuan Bajo. For Manta Alley in South Komodo — the bigger, more remote aggregation site — you need the Shenron liveaboard.

📸 Manta Point Gallery

Frequently Asked Questions