Where the Indian meets the Pacific Ocean

Imagine a place where two Oceans meet. In the south of Indonesia there is such a place- the Pacific Ocean (from the North) and the Indian Ocean (from the South). In the mixed zone, a plankton rich area is built. This is the paradise for the Manta rays: Nusa Penida.

Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is a small Island southeast of Bali. The street of Badung divides the two Islands. We dived the southwest of Nusa Penida, the side towards the open sea. The water temperature was 5°C colder than around Tulamben (Pacific) but still 24°C.

You can best reach Nusa Penida with a flight to Denpasar (for example with Singapore Airlines), and then a short bus ride from Denpasar. Nusa Penida is also offered from other dive destinations at the east coast of Bali.

For example, the Kubu Indah Dive & Spa Resorts offers day trips to the dive with the mantas besides its own dive area around Tulamben.

Manta Rays

The Manta places are on the outer side of Nusa Penida. A speedboat takes you through the channel. They say that they have a 99% Manta guarantee over there.

Our first dive was just after the exit of the channel. Turning left (southeast), a bay awaited us. Also the landscape was fantastic, especially the rock with a hole in it, building a bow over the sea. Mantas can be easily spotted and yes, after cruising a few minutes, we saw them! 2 or 3 Mantas were there, just below the surface.

We jumped in. Diving this site has its own dynamic. Hanging in the shallow water, a groundswell of about 10m took us rhythmically back and forth. And then they appeared around the corner, gliding across the rocks - Manta Rays. We enjoyed at least 30 minutes with them, and then they disappeared.

The second dive took place at a site called Manta Point. It was a few minutes further outside and it paid off. Even without spotting them at the beginning, we jumped in.

With only a 10-minute wait, 2 mantas appeared in about 12m depths. That was just the beginning of the show! During the dives, we came across many more mantas, and at the end they danced just below the surface. What a pity we were low on air really fast.

Nusa Penida is worth a visit for sure. Either book around that place or in the area of Tulamben, where you have totally different diving too.

Further Reading

Overview of Scuba Diving in Indonesia

Directory of Dive Sites in Indonesia

Directory of Dive Shops in Indonesia

Bali, The Island of the Gods

Raja Ampat: Nothing More Needs to Be Said

Komodo Islands

Lembeh Strait: Diving with the “Aliens”

Save Bangka Island