Manta Rays at Nusa Penida: Season, Currents and Who Should Skip It

Manta rays are seen in the waters off Nusa Penida, at sites known as Manta Point and Manta Bay, on snorkeling and diving trips that leave from Bali, Nusa Lembongan and Penida itself. The trip involves open sea in a small boat, and sightings are never guaranteed. It suits confident swimmers who are comfortable in deep water, and it is a poor choice for nervous swimmers and anyone prone to seasickness.

Where the mantas are

The manta ray sites are off the coast of Nusa Penida, the largest of the three islands southeast of Bali. Researchers describe Manta Point and Manta Bay as shallow reefs used by manta rays throughout the year and visited frequently by tourism operators. The sites include places where mantas come to be cleaned by smaller fish and places where they feed.

A protected animal

Indonesia gave manta rays full legal protection in 2014 under a decree of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and the waters around Nusa Penida are one of the country's designated manta sanctuaries. Catching or trading them is illegal. Watching them is the legal economy that replaced it.

No promises

We have no official source for how often mantas are seen, or in which months, so we give no odds and no season. They are wild animals in open water. An operator who guarantees a sighting is promising something no one controls.

How the trip works

A manta trip is a boat trip. Boats to the Nusa islands leave mainly from Sanur, and travel guides give that crossing as roughly 30 to 45 minutes. Trips are sold as snorkeling tours or as scuba dives, from Bali as a full day or from Lembongan and Penida as a half day.

From Bali or from the islands

A trip from mainland Bali adds the crossing in both directions to the day. A trip from Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida starts much closer, since Lembongan is about ten minutes from Penida by local boat. Travelers already planning island nights will find the manta trip easier to do from there.

Snorkel or dive

Mantas at these sites can be seen from the surface, which is why snorkeling trips exist. Diving requires certification. The State Department notes that diving in Indonesia can be dangerous because of minimal safety regulations, so the choice of operator matters more here than at home.

Sea conditions

The manta sites lie on the exposed ocean side of Nusa Penida, not in a sheltered bay. We have no official source on swell or currents there, so we describe none in detail. The planning fact is that the sea decides: trips are moved or cancelled when conditions are poor, and a rough day is uncomfortable even when the trip runs.

Seasickness

A small boat sitting in ocean swell while snorkelers are in the water is hard on anyone prone to seasickness. If that is you, our advice is to take medication beforehand as your doctor recommends, to eat lightly, and to consider whether this outing is worth a miserable morning.

In the water

Snorkeling here means deep, open water with no bottom to stand on, and often some swell. Wear the life jacket or flotation offered, stay with the group and the guide, and get back on the boat when you are tired. Ask before you book whether life jackets are carried for every passenger.

Who should skip it

The manta trip is not for everyone, and saying so is part of an honest description. Our advice is to skip it if you are not a confident swimmer, if deep water frightens you, if you get badly seasick, or if you are traveling with small children. A calmer snorkeling spot will give you a better day.

Medical considerations

The State Department says an injured traveler in Indonesia will likely need to reach a major city for appropriate care. From a boat off Nusa Penida, that journey is a long one. Anyone with a heart, breathing or ear condition should talk to a doctor before diving or snorkeling in open water.

Insurance

Check how your travel insurance treats snorkeling and scuba diving. Some policies cover snorkeling and exclude diving, or cover diving only to a stated depth or with certification. The State Department strongly recommends cover for medical evacuation in Indonesia.

Choosing an operator

The operator is the one variable a visitor controls. We name none. Travel guides advise against boarding any boat you have doubts about, whether because of the vessel, overloading or the weather. A responsible operator limits the number of people in the water and briefs you before you get in.

Questions to ask

These are our own suggestions.

• How many passengers are on the boat, and is there a life jacket for each?
• How many guides are in the water with the group?
• What happens if conditions are poor on the day?
• What are your rules about approaching the mantas?

How to behave around them

Mantas are protected, and good practice is simple: do not touch, do not chase, do not swim over or in front of them, and keep your distance. A manta that is left alone often stays. One that is crowded leaves, and the next boat finds nothing.

Where it fits in a trip

A manta trip belongs in the middle of an itinerary, with a spare day after it. The trip depends on the sea, and it may be moved to the next day. Our advice is to keep at least one full day between any boat outing and your flight home.

Combining it

Most manta trips include other snorkeling stops around Nusa Penida and Lembongan, in calmer water, so the day does not depend on the mantas alone. Ask what the other stops are, since for many people those turn out to be the more enjoyable part.