Snorkeling · Nusa Penida, Bali
Manta Rays Snorkeling
Nusa Penida, Bali · operated by ATV in Bali
Duration 2.5 hoursSnorkelingNusa PenidaModerateInstant confirmation
Manta ray snorkeling at Nusa Penida costs IDR 170,000 (about USD 10) per person for a 2.5-hour boat trip to Manta Point and Manta Bay on the south coast. Reef mantas are present year-round at the cleaning stations there, though sightings are never guaranteed. The price includes the boat, mask, snorkel, fins, buoyancy jacket and an in-water guide.
- Reef mantas of three to four metres across, seen from the surface
- Cleaning-station behaviour means the animals are present year-round
- Two named sites, Manta Point and Manta Bay, depending on the swell
- In-water guide who positions the group so the mantas keep approaching
- Buoyancy jacket provided, so non-swimmers can join
- Two and a half hours, run as a morning trip when the sea is calmest
- Price
- From IDR 170,000
- Price is
- per person
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Location
- Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, Bali
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Languages
- English, Indonesian
- Max group
- 15 people
- Minimum age
- 7 years
- Start times
- 07:30 · 10:00
Select options
Please select a participation date
Shared — join other guestsTwo and a half hours at Manta Point off the south coast of Nusa Penida, snorkelling over the cleaning stations where reef mantas come in.
Quantity
SnorkelerAge 7 and over · minimum 1
IDR 170,000
IDR 340,000
Select a participation date to continuePrefer to ask first? Message us on WhatsApp. We answer between 07:00 and 14:00 WITA (GMT+8), confirm availability there and take payment on the day.
Good to know
- Shared — you join other guests
- Free cancellation at least 1 day before the start
- Confirmed by us on WhatsApp
- Book at least 1 day ahead
- Minimum age 7
Cancellation & changes
- Free cancellation at least 1 day before the start
- No refund less than 1 day before the start
- No cancellation once the voucher has been used
When you book we will ask for: swimming ability — confident, not confident, or non-swimmer.
Ask a questionItinerary
- 10:00Harbour check-in and briefing
Meet at the harbour on Nusa Penida, get fitted for mask, snorkel, fins and buoyancy jacket, and take the briefing — including the rules for manta encounters: no touching, no chasing, no swimming into their path.
- 20:20Boat ride to the south coast
Around the coast to the manta sites. This leg is exposed and can be bumpy; anyone prone to seasickness should take something before boarding rather than during the ride.
- 30:50First entry at the cleaning station
Into the water above the cleaning station, where the guide holds the group in one place. Mantas circle in to be cleaned and pass below and alongside snorkellers.
- 41:30Second site
The boat moves to the second manta site if the first is quiet or crowded — Manta Point and Manta Bay swap depending on swell and where the animals are that morning.
- 52:15Return to harbour
Back around the coast, with drinking water on board and time to rinse gear before landing.
What's included
Included
- ✓Boat trip to the Nusa Penida manta sites
- ✓Mask, snorkel, fins and buoyancy jacket
- ✓In-water snorkeling guide
- ✓Safety briefing and boat crew
- ✓Drinking water
- ✓Activity insurance
Not included
- ✕Fast boat transfer between Sanur and Nusa Penida (arranged separately — ask on WhatsApp)
- ✕Hotel or harbour transfer on Nusa Penida
- ✕Meals
- ✕Underwater photos from the guide
- ✕Wetsuit hire
- ✕Tips
What to bring
- •Swimwear worn under your clothes — there is little privacy to change on the boat
- •A towel and a dry change of clothes
- •Reef-safe sunscreen, or a rash vest instead, since the sites are protected reef
- •Seasickness tablets taken before boarding — the south coast is the roughest water around Nusa Penida
- •A waterproof camera on a wrist strap
Please note
- !Hotel pickup can be arranged from most areas of south and central Bali. Send your hotel name on WhatsApp and you will get the exact transfer price before you book.
- !Tours run in light rain — the tracks are at their best when they are wet. If conditions are genuinely unsafe the activity is rescheduled or refunded in full, and that call is made by the guide on the day.
- !Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts. Cancellations inside 24 hours, or a no-show at the meeting point, are charged in full. There is no charge to move your booking to another date if you tell us before the 24-hour window.
Meeting point and pick-up
Meeting point
The harbour on the north coast of Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency. The exact pin is sent on WhatsApp when you book, along with the boarding time.
Hotel pickup can be arranged from most areas of south and central Bali. Send your hotel name on WhatsApp and you will get the exact transfer price before you book.
- 1Manta Point (Batu Bolong)
- 2Manta Bay
- 3Nusa Penida
- 4Klungkung Regency
- 5Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area
About the Manta Snorkeling
Reef manta rays gather at a handful of points along the south coast of Nusa Penida because the sites are cleaning stations: shallow reef where small wrasse and angelfish pick parasites off the mantas as they circle slowly overhead. That behaviour is why the animals are there almost every month of the year, and why you can watch them from the surface rather than needing to dive.
They are big. A reef manta at Nusa Penida is commonly three to four metres across, and they pass directly under snorkellers without much interest in them.
It is worth being straight about the conditions. The south coast is exposed, the swell is bigger than anywhere else around the island, the water runs cooler, and the boat ride out can be rough. Sightings are not guaranteed and no honest operator will tell you otherwise — but this is one of the most reliable places on earth to snorkel with mantas.
Safety, weather and cancellation
Tours run in light rain — the tracks are at their best when they are wet. If conditions are genuinely unsafe the activity is rescheduled or refunded in full, and that call is made by the guide on the day.
Free cancellation at least 1 day before the start. No refund less than 1 day before the start. No cancellation once the voucher has been used.
Manta Snorkeling questions
How much does manta ray snorkeling cost in Nusa Penida?
Manta ray snorkeling at Nusa Penida costs IDR 170,000 (about USD 10) per person for a 2.5-hour boat trip, including mask, snorkel, fins, buoyancy jacket and an in-water guide. The fast boat between Sanur and Nusa Penida is arranged separately.
What is the best time of year to snorkel with manta rays in Nusa Penida?
Reef mantas are present at the Nusa Penida cleaning stations year-round, so there is no closed season. April to November generally brings calmer seas and better visibility on the south coast, while the wet season can mean rougher boat rides.
Are manta ray sightings guaranteed at Nusa Penida?
No. Manta ray sightings at Nusa Penida are not guaranteed, because these are wild animals visiting cleaning stations at their own pace. Manta Point and Manta Bay are among the most reliable manta sites in the world, and the boat will try both, but no operator can promise an encounter.
Can I snorkel with manta rays if I cannot swim?
Non-swimmers can join these snorkeling trips. Buoyancy jackets are provided and worn for the whole time in the water, and a guide stays in the water with the group.
How big are the manta rays at Nusa Penida?
The reef mantas at Nusa Penida are commonly three to four metres across from wingtip to wingtip. They are filter feeders with no sting and no interest in people, and they routinely pass directly beneath snorkellers.
Is the boat ride to Manta Point rough?
The boat ride to Manta Point runs along the exposed south coast of Nusa Penida, which has the biggest swell around the island, so the crossing is often bumpy. Anyone prone to seasickness should take tablets before boarding.
Can you touch the manta rays at Nusa Penida?
No. Touching, chasing or swimming into the path of a manta ray is not permitted at Nusa Penida, which sits inside a marine protected area. Guides brief every group on this before entry, and keeping still is also what keeps the animals circling nearby.
More questions are answered on the FAQ hub.
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Prices are charged in Indonesian rupiah. 2.5 hours activity in Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, Bali.