Manta Point (Madivaru)
Ari Atoll · Maldives
Cleaning station on the eastern edge of South Ari Atoll where reef mantas queue at coral bommies in the afternoon. Outside the cleaning windows the site is a relaxed reef dive at 10-14 m; during peak activity it can feel like manta traffic control.
Conditions
Depth
8 to 22 m
Open water and up
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
10 to 20 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
27 to 30°C
3mm shorty
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
| Vis (m) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 25 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Hawksbill turtle
Last confirmed May 19, 2026 · 28 records
Very likely
Most dives
Blackfin Anemonefish
Last confirmed May 19, 2026 · 32 records
Very likely
Most dives
Giant Moray
Last confirmed May 21, 2026 · 34 records
Very likely
Most dives
Oriental Sweetlips
Last confirmed May 7, 2026 · 26 records
Very likely
Most dives
Whitetip Reef Shark
Last confirmed May 8, 2026 · 32 records
Very likely
Most dives
Reef manta ray
Last confirmed Apr 15, 2026 · 45 records
Very likely
Most dives
Grey reef shark
Last confirmed Jul 4, 2026 · 19 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Whale shark
Last confirmed Jan 21, 2026 · 8 records
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Gear
Basic kit
For this site
- Dive computer · Operators here expect divers to track their own NDL and surface intervals across multi-dive days.↗
- Surface marker buoy · Boats stack up during peak season; signalling on ascent prevents prop incidents.↗
- Wide-angle camera or GoPro · Mantas pass close enough that a standard phone case rarely captures the scale.↗