Manta Bowl — Nuku Hiva
Dive site
A submerged volcanic pinnacle off the northwest coast of Nuku Hiva rises to about 12 metres below the surface, creating an upwelling that concentrates plankton and draws reef mantas to cleaning stations year-round. Groups of 5 to 15 mantas are commonly observed hovering above the cleaning corals while wrasse work their gills. Oceanic whitetip sharks and silky sharks cruise the blue water column around the pinnacle, and occasional whale sharks pass through from July to October. The site demands neutral buoyancy discipline: current can run at 2 knots and the best manta action happens in the mid-water column at 18 to 25 metres.
Conditions
Depth
12 to 40 m
Advanced depths
Current
Often strong
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
25 to 40 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
24 to 29°C
5mm full
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| Vis (m) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 20 |
| Current | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Strong | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Moderate |
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