If you want to see manta rays in the wild, this Nusa Penida plan is built for it. You’ll sail from Nusa Lembongan with a small group for a 2-tank or 3-tank scuba outing off Penida sites like Manta Point (often on the route), plus Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay. Expect mantas year-round, often circling cleaning stations and doing their dramatic mating behavior when conditions line up.

I like two parts a lot: the almost guaranteed manta sightings focus, and the fact that lunch happens right on the boat during your surface interval. That saves time and keeps the day flowing without feeling like a stop-and-wait kind of tour.

One thing to consider: they cannot guarantee you’ll hit Manta Point every single day, and sea conditions can shift the schedule. It’s still a very strong chance, but it’s not a promise.

Key things to know before you book

• Small group size (max 8) helps you move through the day with less crowd stress.
• Manta Point is a frequent stop, but not guaranteed every day due to conditions.
• 2-tank or 3-tank packages let you match your energy and experience level.
• Lunch on the boat is included after your first underwater session, with coffee and tea.
• Essential gear is included, with computers and GoPros available to rent.
• Mola mola season runs June to October, if conditions permit.

Manta-Ray Focus Out of Nusa Lembongan

Nusa Lembongan is the practical base for exploring Nusa Penida’s famous underwater sites. The big reason people choose this area is simple: mantas are a recurring star, and the local routes target the places mantas use for cleaning and predictable passes.

This experience is designed specifically for certified divers, with proof of certification required. That matters because the guides can plan the outing around real dive logistics, rather than slowing everything down for people who need extra coaching. If you’re already certified, you’ll spend more time where you came for it.

What I also like is the clear structure. You’re not guessing all day. You meet at the Bali Diving Academy Lembongan shop, you get geared up and briefed, then you’re on the boat with a set plan of sites.

Price and What You Actually Get for $105

At $105 per person, the value here is less about the headline price and more about what’s bundled. The package includes:

• all fees and taxes
• a guide
• lunch as a lunch box on the boat, plus coffee and tea
• a community contribution

That combination is where the deal often shows up. Many scuba day tours separate out things like guide time, boat food, and on-site fees, and those add up fast. Here, your day is set up so you can show up, get on the boat, and get your tanks handled without chasing add-ons.

A couple cost notes to keep you from getting surprised:

• GoPro rental is listed as not included. You can rent it if you want it.
• A Manta Point fuel surcharge may be payable on the spot.
• Private transportation is not included, so you’ll want to be ready to make your own way to the meeting point.

Also, the tour offers group discounts and a mobile ticket, which is useful if you’re mixing schedules with other Nusa plans.

The Schedule: When You Meet, Depart, and Return

This is a morning-first activity, with two common start windows depending on the day’s departure:

• Meet at 7:30 am or 10:00 am at the Bali Diving Academy Lembongan shop in Jungut Batu
• Boat departs at 8:00 am or 10:30 am
• After your first underwater session, you’ll eat lunch on the boat during the surface interval
• You’ll typically be back at the shop around 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Why this timing matters: Penida sea conditions and currents can vary. Running a structured morning plan helps the crew keep things safe and efficient, instead of waiting endlessly. The lunch timing is also smart. You’re already in the rhythm of the day, so you don’t lose half your afternoon to land transfers.

The group size is capped at 8 travelers, so it tends to feel more like a team day than a mass departure. That helps with gear set-up flow and makes the briefing easier to handle.

Stop 1: Manta Point and How to Think About the Manta Odds

Manta Point is the big name on this route, and it’s where the day’s hype is aimed. You’re going out with a strong goal: manta rays. The experience describes sightings as almost guaranteed, and it notes mantas are seen year-round.

What you’re likely to notice, when conditions cooperate:

• mantas flying above cleaning stations
• predictable behavior that makes them easier to spot
• mating train behavior in season, when the water and timing line up

Now for the honest part. The operator states they visit Manta Point regularly, but they can’t guarantee it every day. That’s the reality of Penida: weather, currents, and scheduling decisions can move the plan.

If you have flexibility, this is where that flexibility pays off. If Manta Point isn’t possible that day, you still get other Penida sites built for good visibility and reef life. And they do welcome requests for specific sites, though they may not always fit if the sea isn’t cooperating.

What about the cost? There’s also a fuel surcharge for Manta Point that you may pay on the spot. If you want the best budgeting, assume that might come up.

Stop 2: Crystal Bay for Reef Variety and Reliable Viewing

Crystal Bay is the next planned stop, and it’s a favorite style of site for many certified divers: it gives you a change of scenery from the high-profile manta zones. In the area’s broader site list, Crystal Bay often pairs well with Penida’s larger-name locations because it balances action and scenery.

Even when the mantas are the headline, I find Crystal Bay is where the day can feel “complete.” You’re not just chasing one species and counting down the minutes. Instead, you’re moving through a site that typically supports the kind of reef exploration divers enjoy between sightings.

Also, this is still part of the same tightly run day. You’ll typically be coming off your first session with lunch already handled, so your energy is usually better for the second stop.

Stop 3: Gamat Bay for a Longer Day (If You Choose 3 Tanks)

The 3-tank option adds Gamat Bay as a third stop. This is the version to pick if you can handle a longer day and you want more time underwater rather than compressing everything into a shorter outing.

Why I’d consider 3 tanks:

• You get more total bottom time across different sites
• You increase your odds that at least one stop hits its best conditions
• You avoid feeling like you barely got started before you’re back on the boat

A small practical note: your exact site order can still be influenced by scheduling and sea conditions, and the operator explicitly says they may not always accommodate every requested site. But Gamat Bay is listed as the third stop in the standard flow for the package.

Lunch on the Boat: The Un-Boring Part of the Surface Interval

The included lunch is more than just a checkbox. After your first underwater session, you’ll have lunch on the boat during the surface interval. The meal is a lunch box, with coffee and tea available.

That’s helpful because it keeps the day efficient. You’re already out at sea, so it avoids the awkward option of rushing to land, finding a meal, and trying to squeeze the second stop in before conditions change.

For planning, bring a mindset of staying on “boat time” for the middle of the day. This experience is built around that rhythm.

Gear, Computers, GoPros, and the Real Meaning of Included Equipment

The experience lists essential gear included, and it also says computers and GoPros are available for rent. In the non-included list, you’ll see that a full set with a dive computer is available to rent, so you can sort out what you need depending on what you already travel with.

Here’s how I’d think about it:

• If you already have your own scuba kit and computer, you’re likely looking at rentals only for cameras.
• If you don’t travel with a computer, rent one so you’re matching the operation’s setup and calculations.
• If you want GoPro footage, plan on renting it rather than assuming it’s part of the standard kit.

Tip for your packing: if you care about footage, decide in advance so you’re not making that call at the counter.

The Human Touch: Guides and Small-Group Care

The guide team is one of the best reasons to choose a local operator that runs these routes often. This shop has a consistent crew across the Nusa area. Names that show up in feedback include Sybille, Yao, Yap, Andy, Sami, Ledo, Lino, Adi, Rai, Ika, KT, Ryan, Andrew, and Davide.

What those names tell me is that you’re not dealing with a factory line. The operation clearly focuses on support and comfort, including helping people with what they want and keeping groups smaller when possible.

I also like that the briefing is part of the process the moment you arrive at the shop. You meet around 7:30 or 10:00, gear up, then get the guide’s rundown before you head out. For certified divers, that brief can be the difference between a good day and a frustrating one.

Seasonal Bonus: Mola Mola (June to October, When Conditions Permit)

Mantas are the constant, but there’s a seasonal wildcard here: mola mola, also called sunfish. The experience notes a chance from June to October, depending on conditions.

This is the kind of add-on you can get lucky with without it becoming the pressure of the whole trip. It’s nice to know it’s on the radar, especially in the right season, because mola mola sightings are rare enough to feel special when they happen.

Who This Is Best For (and Who Should Rethink It)

This experience is listed for certified divers only. So if you’re not certified, don’t plan on using this as a learning day.

It also mentions a moderate physical fitness level. That’s a fair description for a day that includes boarding boat time, gearing up, and repeating underwater sessions.

This is a great match if:

• you want to prioritize manta rays with a focused route
• you already have certification and want to spend your day in the water rather than in class
• you like small groups (up to 8) and a structured schedule
• you’re pairing Nusa Penida with Nusa Lembongan as a base

You might want to rethink it if:

• your schedule is so tight you can’t handle a plan shift from sea conditions
• you specifically require Manta Point every single day (it’s stated as not guaranteed)
• you don’t have transportation to get to the Jungut Batu meeting point (private transport isn’t included)

Should You Book This Manta-Ray Package from Lembongan?

I’d book it if manta rays are your main goal and you’re already certified. The price feels reasonable because the package includes guide time, lunch onboard, and the core support fees, and the operation is clearly organized around the Penida sites that make this region famous.

Book it with realistic expectations about Manta Point. It’s a frequent stop and sightings are described as almost guaranteed, but you should still plan mentally for the possibility of sea-driven schedule changes. If you’re booking close to your trip dates, also know that confirmation depends on availability, though confirmation is typically handled quickly when you book within about a week.

If you’re choosing between 2 and 3 tanks, I’d lean 3 tanks if you want more total time underwater and you don’t mind a longer day. Choose 2 tanks if you want a strong highlight without committing to the extra stop.

Net-net: this is a solid, purpose-built manta-focused scuba day out of Nusa Lembongan, with good inclusion value and a crew that runs the Nusa route often.

FAQ

Do I need certification to join?

Yes. This experience is for certified divers, and proof of certification is required.

How many underwater sessions are available?

You can choose either a 2-tank or 3-tank package.

What time do I meet at the shop?

You meet at either 7:30 am or 10:00 am at Bali Diving Academy Lembongan in Jungut Batu.

When does the boat depart and when do we return?

The boat departs at 8:00 am or 10:30 am, and you return to the shop around 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm.

Where does the activity start and end?

It starts at Bali Diving Academy Lembongan in Jungut Batu and ends back at the meeting point.

What’s included in the $105 price?

All fees and taxes, a guide, lunch (lunch box plus coffee and tea on the boat), and a community contribution are included.

What is not included?

Not included: GoPro rental, private transportation, and the option of renting a full set with a dive computer (if you need that). There may also be a Manta Point fuel surcharge payable on the spot.

Which sites are typically visited?

The standard stops listed are Manta Point, Crystal Bay, and Gamat Bay.

Can you guarantee Manta Point every day?

No. The operator visits Manta Point regularly, but they cannot guarantee it every day.

When is mola mola possible?

Mola mola is possible from June to October, when conditions permit.

What’s the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is not refunded. If the experience is canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund.