Manta Point Nusa Penida
Manta Point or Batu Lumbung, just off the shores of Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia is a great diving spot that every diver should visit at least once. Manta Point, or Batu Lumbung as the locals refer to it, is a world class diving destination. Located to the south of Nusa Penida, Manta point derives its name from the Manta Ray which frequently uses the rock as their cleaning spot.
The Manta Point rock as well as its siblings, bat rock, are located along a wild cliff-line and are the major topography in the area. Visibility in the area is not great with visibility 5 to 20 meters depending on the weather conditions at the time. The currents in this site are usually moderate however; you are likely to experience surges while underwater. Because the currents are good, this dive is something that any level of diver can undertake. The temperature of the water is also generally favorable, with a reported 20 to 27 degree. Occasionally, the waters may get cold (about 18 degrees) but this does not occur often.
The major thing to see while diving this region, as the name implies, are the giant manta ray. The magnificent creatures are attracted to the area because of the abundance of plankton and nutrient and also use the area as a cleaning spot. It is almost guaranteed that you will see a manta ray (often a school of them) while diving in this region. Manta rays that are in this site, can take on different sizes and colors. They don’t all look alike, with some that are light grey in color with blisteringly white underbellies to those that are totally black with touches of white on their mandibles. However, it is not guaranteed that you will see a manta ray on the day you dive.
If you happen to be diving on the rare occasion that manta ray are not present in the area, relax, there are still a lot of things for you to see. The long sections of coral reef in the water make the perfect location for you to see the emperors, sweetlips, white tip sharks and many other underwater creatures. Another species that is abundant in the area is the mantis shrimp. The long coral patches of the dive site plays host to morays, filefish, clown tiger fish, fusiliers as well as unicorn fish. This is in addition to the many usual tropical fish such as giant clams, anemone, starfish, sponges and sea urchins.
To get to this incredibly beautiful location, you travel for 50 minutes to one hour by speed boat. The access route is slow and often difficult but the scenery that you will encounter will surely be worth it. This dive will leave you in awe, not only of the beauty and magnificence of the manta ray but also of the beautiful world that lies below the surface of the water body.