Rated one of the “top 10” dive sites in the world, Manta Reef offers manta encounters unmatched by any other. Since the 1960s, this magnificent reef has developed into the signature reef of the area, attracting eager diving enthusiasts from around the world. It was even the highlight of the recent BBC documentary “Andrea – Queen of Mantas”.

Your dive begins with a negative backroll entry before slowly descending into a 24m aquarium. You’ll be surrounded by pinnacles rising to 15m and an abundance of life. Macro enthusiasts, in particular, will love the painted frogfish, shrimp and nudibranchs but make sure you look up from time to time or you could miss a passing whale shark, giant barracuda or, of course, our graceful manta rays.

As your dive progresses, you’ll encounter small caves eaten away at the bottom of the reef where sightings of loggerhead turtles, giant morays, ribbon eels and various species of smaller rays can be seen. Moving slowly and calmly onto a plateau, you’ll reach your first cleaning station. It’s important to stay behind your guide and low, not to interfere with the manta’s daily cleaning ritual. Here, we see balls of brightly coloured cleaner wrasse and goldies eagerly awaiting their arrival. In good visibility, this dive is spectacular with upwards of six manta rays circling at any one time.

At the end of the dive, your ascent is often accompanied by circling devil rays and inquisitive remoras, as enchanted by you as you are by them. This “MILD” Peri-Peri site is the first deep reef of the advanced course.