The Sanctuary of Manta Rays: Komodo National Park
By Indi Putra
Everyone dreams of seeing a manta ray in the ocean. So whether you’re a scuba diver or snorkeler, mantas are sure to be towards the top of your ocean encounter bucket list. And it’s easy to see why! These gentle giants move so gracefully; it’s as if they’re soaring.
Still, some people may be confused between manta rays and stingrays. One of the most common questions I get when taking divers to see these magnificent creatures is, “can manta rays sting?” To which I’m happy to report that they are basically harmless.
They are also brilliant creatures. Did you know manta rays have the largest brain-to-size ratio of any cold-blooded fish? Some say they can even recognize themselves in the mirror. Fun fact, every manta has different spots on its belly that can identify them, like a human fingerprint.
Becoming a Professional Diver in Indonesia
My name is Indi, and I’m a dive instructor and underwater photographer working for Uber Scuba Komodo, based in Labuan Bajo, Flores, Indonesia. I’m originally from the capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta. Growing up in a big city, all I could think about was escaping the busyness and traffic jams for a more beautiful life.
I did my first open water in 2014 when I was still in university, and I fell in love with diving straight away. Once I finished studying in 2016, I decided to pack my bag and move to Labuan Bajo to do my advanced certification through my divemaster in five months in an internship program.
I learned a lot about diving during that time, especially in Komodo, where the current can be challenging. Then, in April 2017, I became an instructor in Gili Trawangan, Lombok, and worked there for six months before returning to Labuan Bajo. Since then, I have never left Labuan Bajo.
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When to See Manta Rays in Komodo
Fortunately, diving in Indonesia is one of the best places to see manta all year around. You can see approximately 20 to 30 mantas in one dive in the high season, and sometimes on an incredibly lucky day, you could see a manta train! A manta train is when a few male mantas pursue one female manta in the front. What a sight to see.
The manta season usually starts during the rainy season, November through the beginning of April in Indonesia. During the rainy season, the shallow water also gives more plankton that manta eats. Did you know that manta rays are vegetarians?
The diving conditions are excellent in Komodo, even during the rainy season. Visibility might not always reach 30m, but you still can get at least 10m to 15m. The water temperature here is around 26 to 29 degrees Celsius, with an average of 27 to 28.
The manta rays we can see here are manta alfredi, which are black on their back and white in the belly, and the melanistic manta, which are full black. We don’t typically see oceanic manta rays around Komodo National Park, but a few lucky people have seen them in rare instances. You could see both the manta alfredi and the melanistic manta simultaneously in one dive!
Best Dive Sites to See Mantas in Komodo
There are a few dive sites we can see mantas here. The most famous site is Makassar Reef, also known as Manta Point. This dive site is very long - almost 1.5km - and relatively shallow, with an average maximum depth of 14m. Usually, we dive around only to around 7-12 meters, where there are plenty of cleaning stations for manta to come.
So what is a cleaning station, you may ask? These are coral bommies with tons of small fish around them. The fish will help to clean the parasites from a manta ray while getting a nice meal for themselves.
Another dive site you can see manta rays is Mawan, which is quite close to Manta Point. The topography here is a sloping reef with a sandy area near the cleaning station. So, it’s easy for divers to enjoy watching mantas here. They could either hover or kneel in the sand while keeping a distance of about 3-5 meters from the manta rays.
Mawan and Manta point are located in the center of Komodo National Park, which you can access on a daily trip. There is one other dive site where you can see mantas in Komodo called Manta Alley. The name describes everything, right? This site is in the very south of Komodo, and people usually reach it on a liveaboard.
Protecting Manta Rays in Indonesia
As previously mentioned, manta rays come to shallow water to visit cleaning stations for a good scrub and a snack. However, during the low season, they usually travel or stay in deep water. Some manta rays have even been tracked traveling from Komodo National Park to Bali and back - over 500km!
A few organizations help sustain the manta ray around Komodo National Park, such as Manta Watch, Marine Megafauna, and Manta trust. These organizations help promote awareness to local people and fishermen about manta rays.
As scuba divers here, we are all very invested in protecting the ocean and making sure the reefs are healthy for marine life to live. We are especially interested in preserving manta rays, one of the biggest attractions that draw people from all over the world to Komodo.
We can help those organizations by providing data such as photographs of the manta’s bellies. With these images, they can keep tracking the number of manta rays around here or see if they’re moving somewhere else. You can even help by adopting a manta ray. You get to name them, and you’ll be able to stay updated on their location and condition.
Are You Ready to See Manta Rays?
What should you do when you see manta rays underwater? The first and most important thing to remember is to is keep your distance - at least 3-5 meters. Many people don’t know this, but it’s crucial. I’ve seen some videos of people chasing them to get close. However, mantas can feel uncomfortable when people are chasing them.
We also can’t go to cleaning stations while they are getting cleaned. It would be the same if you were in the shower and strangers came straight to your bathroom. You wouldn’t be comfortable, right?
I know people want to get the best up-close manta shot, but waiting in the distance is the trick. When they feel comfortable, they will come close to you most of the time. And make sure you avoid contact and don’t touch them. If humans touch them, it can harm them.
So, please be a good ocean ambassador when you get to see these magnificent manta rays up close. See you underwater!