Dive Sites (Batu Bolong / Manta Point)

What you gain

• ↑Manta Point in the Mowana area provides the most reliable manta ray encounters in Southeast Asia: cleaning stations on the seamount attract manta rays consistently from April to November, and the combination of cold upwelling water and coral structure means that multi-manta encounters on a single dive are the rule rather than the exception
• ↑Batu Bolong (isolated seamount, 1.5 hours from Labuan Bajo) is considered by many diving professionals as the finest single dive site in the world: the 360-degree coral coverage, the density of reef fish, the presence of all three types of sharks (whitetip, blacktip, grey reef), and the Napoleon wrasse create a dive experience of exceptional biodiversity
• ↑The Komodo diving season (April–November, best April–June) coincides with the world's most reliable manta ray aggregation in the Indian Ocean — operators with pre-season knowledge of cleaning station locations can guarantee manta sightings on every dive in April and May

What you sacrifice

• ↓Komodo's dive conditions require experience and physical fitness: the strong thermoclines, powerful currents (up to 5 knots at The Cauldron), and cold water upwelling (as low as 16°C) make Komodo inappropriate for beginners and require Advanced Open Water certification as a minimum
• ↓The best dive sites are only accessible by liveaboard: day trips from Labuan Bajo reach the southern and northern sites but the full circuit of all major sites requires 3–6 nights aboard