Manta Point

Cleaning station where manta rays gather year-round near Komodo's south coast

Manta Point is a cleaning station on the south coast of Komodo Island where reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) gather year-round to have parasites removed by small reef fish. It is the most reliable place in Komodo National Park to encounter mantas, with sightings almost guaranteed from November to April when mantas aggregate in largest numbers.

Rays can be seen both diving and snorkelling. The cleaning station is in relatively shallow water — 5 to 15 metres — making it accessible to snorkellers who can stay still and let the mantas circle overhead. Disturbing the cleaning station by swimming too close or chasing rays causes them to leave; reputable operators enforce the no-touch, no-chase rule. A second site, known as Manta Alley, is at the south end of Komodo Island and sees large aggregations during the season.

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A story
Manta rays visit cleaning stations — specific sites where small fish remove parasites from their skin and gills — with remarkable regularity. The mantas at Manta Point have been using this cleaning station for so long that they are identifiable as individuals by the distinctive spot patterns on their white undersides. Researchers have been tracking specific rays here for years, documenting their movements through the park and providing information used to argue for the park's expanded marine protection.