Manta Point (Gili Trawangan)

Overview: South Gili Trawangan’s Pelagic Arena

Located off the southern tip of Gili Trawangan, Manta Point is a gently sloping coral reef that extends from 10 metres down to 30 metres into the Lombok Strait.

During the rainy season (December to March), nutrient-rich upwellings sweep into the channel, attracting magnificent reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) to feed and visit local cleaning bommies.

Detailed Dive Route

• Descent (10m–15m): Drop onto the upper coral slope. The reef is blanketed with hard staghorn corals and table acropora.
• The Cleaning Bommies (15m–22m): Settle neutrally above the sand around large coral heads where cleaner wrasse service mantas and sweetlips.
• The Deep Slope (22m–28m): Whitetip reef sharks, blue-spotted rays, and schools of giant trevally cruise the outer deep sand channels.

Safety Briefing

• Current: Can be unpredictable with downward tidal currents near the southern point. Divers must carry an SMB and stay close to their guide.
• Certification: Open Water (18m) for upper slope; Advanced Open Water (30m) for deep cleaning stations.

Technical Dive Profile & Navigation

1. Entry & Descent Mechanics

• Descent Method: Direct giant-stride or negative back-roll from the boat, descending along the shot line to prevent surface drift.
• Ear Equalization: Equalize continuously every 1 metre during the descent phase to prevent sinus or middle-ear barotrauma.
• Compass Heading & Navigation: Set a primary heading toward the main reef structure. Maintain buddy contact within 2 metres throughout the descent.

2. Deep Section & Gas Management (14m to 25m)

• NDL Discipline: At depths of 25m, your No-Decompression Limit ticks down rapidly. Monitor your dive computer continuously.
• The Craig Rule: Divers certified to Open Water level (18m maximum) must stay on the upper reef shelf and never follow advanced divers down past 18m.
• Turnaround Gas: Signal your buddy and start your ascent when the first diver reaches 110 bar (or one-third of usable cylinder capacity).

3. Ascent & 5m Safety Stop

• Ascent Rate: Ascend along the reef wall at a controlled rate not exceeding 9 metres per minute.
• Mandatory Safety Stop: Complete a strict 3-to-5-minute safety stop at 5 metres (15 feet) before deploying an SMB and surfacing with a 360-degree overhead scan.

Marine Life & Habitat Zones (Biologically Verified)

• Apex & Pelagic Predators: Reef Manta Rays (Mobula alfredi), Dogtooth Tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor), Giant Trevally (Caranx ignobilis).
• Reef Fish & Keystone Species: Bumphead Parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum), Clown Triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum), Oriental Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus vittatus).
• Macro Biodiversity & Benthic Invertebrates: Pygmy Seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti), Blue-Ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata), Robust Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus).
• Elasmobranchs & Marine Reptiles: High-Density Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill Turtles, Whitetip Reef Sharks (Triaenodon obesus), Blacktip Reef Sharks.