Manta Point Komodo
Karang Makassar, known to every boat crew as Manta Point, is a shallow rubble ridge in the channel between Komodo and Flores, and it is one of the most reliable places in the world to get in the water with reef manta rays.
It works as a cleaning station. Mantas — which can span four metres or more across — come here to hover over specific coral outcrops while small wrasse and other cleaner fish pick parasites off their skin and gills. They queue, hold position and circle. That behaviour is what makes them approachable, because a feeding or travelling manta will simply keep going.
Crucially, this is a snorkelling site as much as a dive site. The ridge is shallow, and mantas frequently cruise a few metres below the surface, so certification is not required.
The complication is current. The channel funnels serious water and drift is normal. Trips are run as drift snorkels: the boat drops you upstream, you float over the ridge, and it picks you up downstream. Stay with your guide, keep the boat in view and do not attempt to swim against it.
Etiquette matters and is enforced by good operators: do not touch, do not chase, do not dive down on top of them, and never block their path over a cleaning station. Mantas are here year-round, with sightings most consistent in the calmer months.
Travel tips for Manta Point Komodo
- You do not need to dive — mantas here regularly cruise within snorkelling depth over a shallow ridge.
- This is a drift site. The boat drops you upstream and collects you downstream; never try to swim against the current.
- Do not touch, chase or dive on top of them. Blocking a manta's path over a cleaning station makes it leave.
- Wear a full rash guard. The drift means you cover ground fast and sun exposure at the surface is significant.
- Mantas are present year-round, with the most comfortable conditions in the calmer dry-season months.
- Listen to your guide on entry timing — getting in at the wrong point of the channel wastes the drift.
Popular tours here
- Komodo Tour from Lombok
- Komodo National Park 3D/2N Liveaboard
- Padar, Pink Beach & Komodo Day Trip
Frequently asked questions
Where is Manta Point in Komodo?
At Karang Makassar, a shallow rubble ridge in the channel between Komodo and Flores, included on most park boat itineraries.
Can you snorkel with mantas at Komodo?
Yes — the ridge is shallow and mantas often cruise within a few metres of the surface, so no diving certification is needed.
Why do mantas gather at Manta Point?
It is a cleaning station, where mantas hover over coral outcrops while cleaner fish remove parasites from their skin and gills.
Is there current at Manta Point?
Yes, often strong — trips run as drift snorkels with the boat dropping you upstream and collecting you downstream.
What is the best time of year to see mantas in Komodo?
They are present year-round, with the calmer dry-season months offering the most comfortable conditions and best visibility.