Snorkeling with large manta rays is an unforgettable experience, to not miss when visiting Bali. Nusa Penida is a small island situated solely 25 km south east of Bali, Indonesia. Swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving with mantas may be completed on the dive websites Manta Level or Manta Bay across the island of Nusa Penida all yr spherical.
Snorkeling excursions with manta rays depart from Toyapakeh on Nusa Penida, from the neighboring island Nusa Lembongan, or as a day journey by velocity boat from Sanur on mainland Bali. We spent an unimaginable week on Nusa Penida island, doing quite a lot of scuba diving and snorkeled with these light giants a number of instances at completely different spots. Manta Level dive websites are improbable for scuba divers. I’ll all the time suggest spending a while on the Nusa islands, however if you’re solely going to be on mainland Bali, a day journey by speedboat from Sanur is a superb alternative.
See our Full Information to Scuba Diving at Nusa Penida.
Nusa Penida Excursions
Nusa Penida Island
Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Lembongan are three small islands separated from Bali on the east facet by The Bandung Strait. Nusa Penida is the biggest of the three and there’s lots to discover across the island. House to spectacular cliffs, pristine seashores, bat caves, temples, and waterfalls Nusa Penida is a photographer’s dream. The diving and snorkeling round Bali and the Nusa islands are world-class. See our Information for Things to do on Nusa Penida.
Go to Manta Level or Manta Bay?
Manta Bay and Manta Level are two completely different dive websites on the Nusa Penida coast the place we snorkeled with manta rays, you may snorkel or dive with manta rays at each these dive websites.
Manta Bay Snorkeling
Manta Bay is the world the place most snorkeling firms go for manta snorkeling expeditions. This can be a pretty shallow space of linked bays in entrance of Angel’s Billabong. Mantas come from deep water to feed on plankton that’s pushed up over this shallow reef. The snorkeling space at Manta Bay is round 10 meters deep, however mantas come very shallow swimming slightly below the floor, they will usually be seen from the boats and are available near snorkelers mendacity on the floor. It is extremely in style as a result of there are a great deal of mantas right here and since it’s a brief boat experience from Toyapakeh on Nusa Penida.
Location – Manta Bay is situated on the west coast of Nusa Penida, a few 20-minute drive by boat from Toyapakhe. When visiting Damaged Seashore and Angel Billabong on Nusa Penida island, you may usually see majestic manta rays swimming on the floor from the encompassing cliffs. Snorkeling excursions to Nusa Penida usually go to Manta Bay and mix it with snorkeling and seaside visits to the principle sights of Toyapakeh Wall, Gamat Bay, and Crystal Bay.
Snorkeling circumstances at Manta Bay – Put together your self for snorkeling in pretty tough, uneven circumstances in deep water with currents. Swimming with the mantas just isn’t in calm, swimming pool-like circumstances and your toes can’t contact the underside. The positioning has a sandy backside sloping from 5 meters to 12 meters within the snorkeling space, it does drop all the way in which to about 30m. Visibility on this bay is normally about 8 – 15 meters, so the water is evident and you may take good images and video underwater. Water temperature from November until June varies round 26-30 °C, and from July until October the water temperature drops to the low 20s, throughout this time a wetsuit is most well-liked for snorkeling.
The drawback of snorkeling at one of the best locations is it will get very busy with many boats and snorkelers.
Marine Life – Reef manta rays should not the one thrilling marine animals to seek out in a small bay at this snorkeling website. Reef sharks, turtles, Eagle Rays, and a number of other small fish are marine animals you could have a good probability of seeing snorkeling right here.
Manta Level Snorkeling
Manta Level Nusa Penida is essentially the most well-known dive spot round Bali to dive with manta rays. Your possibilities of seeing manta rays are higher at Manta Level than at Manta Bay, however they usually swim deeper and circumstances are harder for snorkeling. This in style dive website is likely one of the well-known manta ray cleansing stations the place mantas swim round coral heads the place cleaner wrasse and different small reef fish clear the massive marine animals of micro organism and parasites. The manta cleansing station is a big rock coming as much as about 5 meters from the floor. Greater than 5 mantas are sometimes seen circling the cleansing station. Since it’s situated farther from Toyapakeh and since it’s extra uncovered to tough open ocean circumstances there are fewer snorkeling boats that come to Manta Level.
Snorkeling circumstances at Manta Level – Uncovered to the open ocean snorkeling right here is normally in greater swell and circumstances may be extra tough and uneven than Manta Bay. Water is deep, between Eight and 12 meters, dropping to a most depth of 40 meters. Water temperature at Manta Level ranges between 20C and 26C, a full-length wetsuit is really useful.
Location – Manta Level is situated on the southwest coast of Nusa Penida, a few 45-minute drive by boat from Toyapakhe.
Marine Life – Once you dive at Manta Level there are numerous completely different organisms you may see together with, sharks, marble rays, eagle rays, sting rays, bamboo sharks, and blue noticed stingrays. Diving at Nusa Penida is world famend for seeing mola mola, additionally known as the oceanic sunfish. These large animals are typically seen at Manta Level. Because the water is pretty deep, snorkeling right here you aren’t prone to see lots of the marine animals that swim nearer to the underside.
Scuba diving with the native manta ray inhabitants at Manta Level is likely one of the nice experiences diving in Bali, see our detailed Scuba Diving in Bali Information.
Finest Time of the 12 months to swim with Manta Rays at Nusa Penida
You’ll be able to swim with manta rays year-round at Manta Bay and Manta Level from Nusa Penida, however the snorkeling and climate circumstances should not nice all yr spherical.
Low season – Through the wet season, from December to March, circumstances are very unpredictable, and snorkeling and diving excursions are sometimes canceled.
Good season – The dry season is one of the best time for snorkeling and diving. Between Might and November, you could have the very best probability of good climate and calm seas. Between Might and September ‘upwelling’ happens, pushing plankton to the floor, this leads to manta rays showing nearer to the floor searching for meals.
How Secure and Simple Is It to Swim with Manta Rays?
Manta rays come near the floor in clear waters in some snorkeling spots and may usually be seen from the boat. Because the water is deep and there are sometimes massive swell and powerful currents on this a part of the Indian Ocean it’s a must to be a reliable swimmer for this exercise. In case you are doubtful about whether or not you may participate on this exercise talk about the state of affairs with the tour firm and tour information. You’ll be able to put on a life jacket and attempt to organize private help to get pleasure from certainly one of Bali´s high sights safely.
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Manta Ray Snorkel Tour from Bali
A number of dive facilities do manta snorkel excursions to Manta Bay from mainland Bali. Happening a Manta Ray Snorkeling tour from Canggu, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Ubud or Seminyak in Bali is straightforward with this well-reviewed manta snorkel tour that may choose you up out of your lodge in Bali. Resort pickup, lunch, and quick boat to Nusa Penida included.
- Bucket listing merchandise – swim with large reef manta rays of Nusa Penida
- Go to Crystal Bay, Manta Bay, and Mangrove Level
- Wonderful snorkeling round Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan
Manta Ray Snorkel Tour from Nusa Penida
There are many manta snorkel excursions that depart from Nusa Penida to discover Manta Bay, Manta Level, or different reefs across the island. It’s good to remain on the island and take a few of these journeys since there are many different glorious sights on the island and squeezing a number of actions right into a day journey just isn’t all the time as a lot enjoyable. Try this Manta snorkeling tour that departs from Nusa Penida’s Toyapakeh Harbour.
- Go snorkeling at three spots across the island corresponding to Crystal Bay, Gamat Bay, and Manta Bay.
- Get the possibility to swim with the majestic manta rays
- Obtain a scrumptious beachside lunch at Paradise Seashore on Nusa Lembongan (Indonesian meals buffet).
- Discover mangroves by kayak or paddleboard if circumstances permit.
Manta Ray Snorkel Tour from Nusa Lembonghan
In case you are staying on Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Ceningan there are some good snorkeling excursions departing from the island to swim with the mantas round Nusa Penida. Go on an superior manta snorkeling tour from Nusa Lembongan.
- Go snorkeling at three spots across the island corresponding to Toyapakeh, Crystal Bay, and Gamat Bay.
- Get the possibility to swim with the majestic manta rays at Manta Bay.
- Obtain a pleasant Indonesian buffet lunch at Paradise Seashore.
- Discover mangroves by kayak or paddleboard if circumstances permit.
Better of Nusa Penida Full-Day Tour by Quick Boat from Bali
Improbable full-day Nusa Penida tour from Bali. Go to the island by speedboat, Right here a neighborhood driver will take you round to a few of the highlights of Nusa Penida. See the cliffs of Damaged Seashore, the pure infinity pool at Angel’s Billabong, and the white sand seaside at Crystal Bay, Cease for an included native lunch.
Lodging on Nusa Penida
Things to Pack
A skinny neoprene high, corresponding to this 0.5mm neoprene Mares Rash Guard, will assist to maintain you heat and shield you from the solar snorkeling.
The GoPro Hero 11 is waterproof as much as 10m, and the stabilization and underwater white stability are unreal for picture and video, excellent motion cam for an energetic vacation, We love our Go Professional!
I all the time put on my trusty floppy surf hat on journeys like this to guard me from the solar.
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The robust half of Stingy Nomads, a nomadic aquaman that may be glad to spend all his life within the water diving, browsing and spearfishing however usually has to compromise with Alya and go mountaineering as an alternative. Campbell is chargeable for all our marine adventures and following them with write-ups. He loves touring, braai (BBQ in South Africa), pink wine and spending the day in a wetsuit.
