Question 1

Can a beginner diver do Manta Point Komodo?

Accepted Answer

Yes in most cases - Open Water certification is generally sufficient with a guide-led drift briefing, though comfort with buoyancy control helps since you'll be holding position in moving water near a cleaning station.

Question 2

Is Manta Point a drift dive or a fixed-point dive?

Accepted Answer

It's a drift dive. You enter up-current and let the flow carry the group along the Karang Makassar plateau rather than swimming to a fixed anchor point.

Question 3

How many dives per day include Manta Point?

Accepted Answer

Most day-trip and liveaboard itineraries schedule Manta Point as one dedicated dive within a two- or three-dive day, often paired with a reef site like Batu Bolong for contrast.

Question 4

Do I need my own dive gear?

Accepted Answer

No - Komodo dive operators typically include full rental gear (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins) in their trip price; bring your own only if you have fit or comfort preferences.

Question 5

Can non-divers join the same boat as divers going to Manta Point?

Accepted Answer

Yes - because the cleaning stations sit as shallow as 8 metres, many trips carry snorkellers and divers together on the same boat and same site.

Question 6

What is the water temperature at Manta Point?

Accepted Answer

Komodo's central waters run warmer in the wet season (around 27-29°C, roughly December-March) and can drop noticeably cooler in the dry season upwelling months; a 3mm wetsuit is a reasonable default, with a hood or vest for cold-sensitive divers in peak dry-season months.

Question 7

Can I see manta rays at Manta Point Komodo without diving?

Accepted Answer

Yes, many visitors see mantas here while snorkelling only. Rays often feed and travel close to the surface, especially during the wet season, so non-divers can still have meaningful encounters. You must, however, be comfortable in open water and in current. A proper briefing, well-fitting fins and staying close to the guide boat are essential for safety and for minimising disturbance to the animals.

Question 8

Is it possible to do a refresher course in Labuan Bajo before diving Manta Point?

Accepted Answer

Yes, most visitors who feel rusty arrange a skills refresher in Labuan Bajo before joining trips that include this site. Spending a half day in calmer conditions allows you to revisit buoyancy, mask skills and controlled ascents, which matter more at a drift site. Plan your arrival so you have at least one full day before the manta trip to complete this session without rushing.

Question 9

Is Manta Point Komodo good for scuba diving or only snorkeling?

Accepted Answer

The site offers worthwhile experiences for both certified divers and snorkellers. Divers can position themselves along the reef at 8–18 metres near cleaning stations, often watching repeated passes. Snorkellers benefit during surface feeding events when mantas cruise just below them. The better choice depends on your training, comfort in current and willingness to manage the extra logistics that scuba equipment involves on a moving boat.

Question 10

Do I need drift diving experience for Manta Point Komodo?

Accepted Answer

Having some drift experience is strongly recommended, although not always mandatory. Boat teams often plan relaxed, controlled drifts, but surface conditions, tides and other groups can complicate entries and exits. If you have never drifted before, discuss this with the operator so they can match you with a suitable guide, choose calmer tide windows where possible and possibly suggest an easier check dive beforehand.

Question 11

How long should you wait before flying after diving?

Accepted Answer

You can fly after diving, but you must respect recognised no-fly intervals. Most agencies advise at least 18 hours between your last dive and boarding a plane, and a longer surface interval is sensible after multiple deep or repetitive dives. Many visitors schedule their manta dives for earlier in the trip and keep the final full day in Labuan Bajo as a non-diving buffer before flying.

Question 12

Can you fly after diving Manta Point Komodo?

Accepted Answer

Flying is permitted after diving here if you leave an adequate gap between the last ascent and your flight. A conservative approach is to stop diving the day before travel, especially if your dive computer has logged multiple dives or limited decompression margins. This buffer also gives some flexibility if rougher seas or weather delay your return to Labuan Bajo later than expected.

Question 13

How much is the diving fee at Manta Point Komodo?

Accepted Answer

There is no fixed, published “diving fee” specific to this site beyond Komodo National Park charges. Current regulations set a park entry of IDR 250,000 per foreign visitor under PP No. 36/2024, plus a bundled ranger fee per small group and minor conservation levies. Boat operations, guiding and equipment are priced by individual companies, so you need to request an exact quote for your dates.

Question 14

Are gloves allowed when diving Manta Point Komodo?

Accepted Answer

Gloves are generally discouraged because they can encourage unnecessary contact with the reef or with animals. At a cleaning and feeding area, even brief, careless touching damages coral and alters manta behaviour. In cooler season conditions, a thin exposure glove may be acceptable if you still avoid holding rocks or bommies. Check your operator’s specific policy during the briefing and follow the guide’s instructions at the site.

Question 15

Can you see mantas without a diving licence?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can see mantas here without a diving licence by joining a snorkel-focused trip. Surface-based encounters can be excellent during plankton-rich periods, and guides manage positioning from the boat. You should honestly assess your swimming ability and comfort in current, as there is no bottom to stand on. Operators may require life jackets or flotation aids for weaker swimmers to keep encounters controlled.

Question 16

What certification do I need?

Accepted Answer

Open Water is accepted by most operators given the manageable depth and current. Advanced, or a logged drift-diving history, may be asked for when the tide is running hard on the day.

Question 17

How strong is the current really?

Accepted Answer

Mild to moderate, and tide-dependent. It is not one of north Komodo’s hard sites like Castle Rock or Cauldron. Moderate on one trip can still feel stronger than moderate on another.

Question 18

Do I need a guide?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and every operator will insist. The current shifts with the tide and manta activity moves across the plateau — local reading of both is what makes the dive work.

Question 19

How many dives should I book?

Accepted Answer

Two or three on a dedicated day is normal. If mantas are the whole reason you came, two chances beats one.

Question 20

What else will I see?

Accepted Answer

Whitetip reef sharks on the sand, green turtles, spotted eagle rays in the current, giant trevally hunting, and dense fusilier schools.

Question 21

Can non-divers join a dive trip?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes, as snorkellers, but a dive-focused day is timed and routed for divers. If half your group snorkels, a general day trip usually serves both better.

Feature	Manta Point	Manta Alley
Depth	8–18 m plateau	Deeper
Current	Mild to moderate	Strong
Water	27–29°C surface	22–25°C in the dry season
Certification	Open Water	Certified, current-comfortable
Access	Standard day trip	Longer liveaboard routes
Cancellation	Rarely dropped	First stop cut on a rough day

A drift dive with somewhere to be

Numbers to plan against

How the day is built

Timed against the tide

Briefed on the drift

Down and along

Surface and collect

Manta Point or Manta Alley?

What matters underwater

Stay with the guide

Do not block a pass

No flash close in

Questions about diving here

What Manta Point is

The full guide

Manta Point snorkelling

Dive trip from Labuan Bajo

Marine life

Two tanks, one plateau