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Addu Manta Point Dive Site (Addu Atoll or Seenu Atoll)

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Addu Manta Point Dive Site (Addu Atoll or Seenu Atoll)

Addu Manta Point Dive Site

Where is Addu Manta Point dive site?

Addu Manta Point (Mudakan Manta Point Cleaning Station) is a cleaning station in Maa Kandu south Maldives and a reliable spot to see reef mantas year-round. It’s best to dive Addu Manta Point in the morning on an incoming current, making it a reliable spot to see friendly reef mantas most days.

Addu Manta Point dive site is a cleaning station in Maa Kandu channel, and a reliable spot to see reef manta rays for a few of hours on most days. According to the Maldives Manta Conservation Programme (MMCP), both adult and juvenile reef manta rays use Addu Manta Point year-round.

The MMCP say that the manta rays frequenting this site are very friendly with divers and love to hover above the bubbles to receive a ‘bubble massage’. Plus, so far no feeding has been observed at this site.

Addu Manta Point Dive Site Description

I thought it would be easier for you to read about The Maldive’s Addu Manta Point dive site in a list, as follows:

  1. Dive type: Channel dive with mild to strong drift currents.
  2. Addu Manta Point alternative name includes Mudakan Manta Point Cleaning Station.
  3. Addu Manta Point is a coral outcrop best dived in the morning with an incoming current.
  4. Addu Manta Point dive site is between 16 meters (52 feet) and 21 meters (69 feet), although the depth is up to 25 meters (82 feet).
  5. The maximum depth of Addu Manta Point dive site is around 25 meters (82 feet).
  6. Dive site is a coral outcrop where the manta rays arrive for a cleaning.
  7. To enjoy the Addu Manta Point dive and the visiting mantas a reef hook will be necessary.
  8. Addu Manta Point can be dived using a local dive company leaving from the Maradhoo harbour on a dhoni. This trip takes about 35 minutes to arrive at the dive site. Or you can choose a Maldives liveaboard that dives Maldives Deep South instead; see below table of Maldives liveaboards that visit Addu Manta Point.
  9. Suggested equipment includes: camera, dive computer, reef hook, shorty, surface marker buoy (SMB).

Maldives liveaboards that dive Addu Manta Point

This table of Maldives dive liveaboards that include Addu Manta Point dives in their itinerary are in customer review order, with the best reviewed liveaboard at the top of the list.

Total Records Found: 18, showing 7 per page
Customer ReviewDiscover LiveaboardCustomer ReviewsPrice Per Day

First liveaboard…definitely won’t be the last! Without a doubt, the diving experiences were the best ever! Night dives with manta rays and nurse sharks…. and so much underwater life in general! Our dive guides worked hard to get us to see as much as possible and the crew were always friendly and helpful. On board was great too. Relaxing in the tub or on the loungers between dives was a treat, as were the super comfy sofas! The food was excellent – such a great spread every meal time! Thoroughly enjoyed the week. Very sad that it’s now over!Recommended for: Friendly crew and dive guides, food, chill out areas.

Review: MV Blue Force One; Book: MV Blue Force One 9.4 Superb from £203; $260; €238

Always beyond our best expectations. In our trip in Sachika boat, everything went perfect but the weather. Giacomo and the dive masters were the best: kind, helpful, and very professional. They take care of every small problem with a smile, making us feel at home from the first day The ship is in peak condition, so clean, and taken care off that it looks new. Much better than pictures, where usually is the contrary. Cabin was big and clean, with plenty space and an comfortable individual bathroom, also carefully cleaned. And food, food was amazing. Every meal was a buffet with plenty of choices, although since all were delicious, you usually end up eating much more than anticipated. Overall, when I come back to Maldives, I’ll definitely will be back with Giacomo and his crew. Thank you very much for the best diving week of our lives.Recommended for: Divemasters, cabin, Food.

Review: Top Class Cruising - Sachika; Book: Top Class Cruising - Sachika 9.4 Superb from £183; $231; €212

Excellent boat and staff with fantastic diving – you can’t go wrong here. This is a very well run dive operation with a fantastic pair of dive managers, Gabriel and Maria. They both really look after you and the experience level of the guiding I received was second to none. (Gabriel is both full cave and tech certified and very experienced). Gabriel the DM and boat manager went way above and beyond to make sure we got in the water at the right time and location to see everything we wanted to. Highly recommend this boat and crew, it was the best liveaboard I’ve done yet.Recommended for: The dive guide, the condition of the boat, the food.

Review: MV Emperor Serenity; Book: MV Emperor Serenity 9.3 Superb from £188; $241; €220

Fantastic Diving, Boat & Crew. Manta Rays on many dives, including a night dive Sharks, White Tip & Grey reef shark and Nurse Sharks Sting rays, Eagle Rays. Snorkelling with Whale Shark. Soleil 2 is a large, spacious and very well equipped boat Crew & Guides were very friendly, helpful & knowledgeable Food and service was superb.” Recommended for: Large spacious Cabin, Fantastic Diving, Good Guides.

Review: MV Soleil 2; Book: MV Soleil 2 9.3 Superb from £124; $156; €144

Amazing experience. We were incredibly impressed by the setup on this liveaboard. The dive boat is spacious and supports 20 people comfortably. We were part of a dive group of 5 and the smallest on our boat was 4 and most was 6. They have 11.5L, 13.5L tanks (free) and 15L for those who need it at a premium. The gear provided was well maintained. Our standard room was spacious and clean with a good en suite. The communal areas of the boat are also spacious and there was coffee and snacks available at all times. Food was great and they even regularly caught fresh fish off the edge of the boat which was eaten the same day for dinner. This was my first, however, my colleagues said how this would spoil future liveaboards. I definitely recommend this option. For transparency, we got in early and paid around $2100 and found it to be good value for money.” Recommended for: Mantas, Whalesharks and spacious rooms.

Review: MV Carpe Vita; Book: MV Carpe Vita 9.2 Superb from £211; $270; €247

Epic Trip! Every dive delivered amazing experiences and encounters thanks to Gabriel, Maria, Ali and Rich. The boat crew was friendly, entertaining and enjoyable to socialize with. Manta Ray night dive was a dream alongside encounters with variety of sharks and rays. Dive guides were most professional, safe and led a phenomenal adventure. Would dive with this boat and crew again!!Recommended for: 4 dives/day, crew hospitality and care, vast area covered at sea.

Review: MV Emperor Explorer; Book: MV Emperor Explorer 9.2 Superb from £247; $316; €289

Outstanding and unforgettable! Variety of dives are excellent on Central Atolls tour…mix of deep channels with strong currents and pelagics, sheltered reefs with vibrant corals and large schools of reef fish, stingray/shark feeding dives (insane!), manta night dive, wall dives, drift dives, and snorkelling with a whale shark to top it off. Truly amazing. Trips between dives to gorgeous island and a picture perfect sandbank plus a beach bbq party which the crew make very special. Early starts every day but then dives spaced out so plenty of sunbathing and relaxing time on surface intervals. Healthiest food I’ve ever had on a holiday! Good variety and all tasty. Daily room service and super attentive staff. Highly proficient dive staff. I had a junior suite and it was HUGE! I also went as a solo traveller expecting to share and ended up having it to myself. TV in room had screen cast not that I used it much… was never bored. Lived like a King! Multiple seating areas spread all over boat, could always find somewhere for solo time. I definitely recommend this boat and would go again in a heartbeat. Teseo dive director is kind, patient, works really hard to give you an amazing trip. Perfect person for the job and like a fish in the water! My ONLY criticism is the rental fins. They’re very flimsy and do not deliver powerful kicks. For most dives, fine, but there are strong currents on some and I was really having to exert myself to keep close to the group and my buddy. Not fun. I’m in OK fitness, deeply regretted not buying and bringing a good pair. If you do the south Atolls tour this is even more important, apparently that’s mostly channel dives. I did the Central Atolls tour 13-20 January 2024. Doesn’t affect my strong recommendation for this boat though.” Recommended for: Variety of dives, level of service from staff, comfort on board.

Review: MV Princess Sara; Book: MV Princess Sara 9.2 Superb from £147; $188; €172

Where is Addu Manta Point Dive Site?

Addu Manta Point is Addu Manta Point is located in the Manta Point Marine Protected Area (MPA) on the north side of Addu Atoll in the Maldives.

Addu Atoll is the southern most atoll of the Maldives and is south of the equator.

Addu Manta Point Dive Site location on Map of The Maldives Atolls

Maldives Addu Manta Point Dive Site Map

Diving Addu Manta Point Videos

You’ll see how many manta rays can be seen at one time in the following video at Addu Manta Point…enjoy:

Scuba diving Addu – Manta Point – Famous Manta Dive at Addu Manta Point, 14 Mantas and a Baby Manta
Manta Point, Addu Atoll, Maldives

Best Time to Dive Addu Manta Point

Addu Manta Point can be dived year-round as the diver-friendly manta rays visit this manta cleaning station most days all year. If you are lucky you may experience between 10-20 manta rays at the site at a time, which can include juvenile mantas too.

What is the best time to visit Addu Manta Point?

Although you can see manta rays all year at Addu Manta Point, it depends on the weather conditions you prefer. If you prefer less rain and calmer seas it’s best to visit during the northest monsoon (dry season). But if you don’t mind more rain and choppier seas during the southwest monsoon (wet season) you can visit Addu Manta Point any time.

Can you snorkel at Addu Manta Point?

Addu Manta Point isn’t good for snorkeling, as it’s too deep to enjoy this manta cleaning station. The main manta cleaning station is at 21 meters (69 feet), so unless you are an avid deep diving skin-diver then it is better to scuba dive Addu Manta point instead.

Is Addu Manta Point worth it?

Addu Manta Point dive is definately worth it if you love scuba diving with manta rays. It is one of the best places in the Maldives to have almost guaranteed manta rays sitings year-round where you’ll have close eye-to-eye contact with large mantas.

I hope you enjoyed this article about Addu Manta Point Maldives

I’d love to hear from you. Tell us about your adventures of diving and snorkeling, in the comments below. Please also share your photos. Either from your underwater cameras or videos from your waterproof Gopro’s!

If this article hasn’t answered all of your questions. If you have more questions either about snorkeling or scuba diving (or specifically about Addu Manta Point dive site Maldives), please comment below with your questions.

There will also be many more articles about scuba diving (and snorkeling) for you to read and learn about these fabulous sports.

Have fun and be safe!

Addu Manta Point Dive Site (Addu Atoll or Seenu Atoll)

Article written by Russell Bowyer who has been a scuba diver since diving on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia in 1989. After his first dive he trained as a BSAC diver in the UK. He attained his Diver Leader certification with BSAC. He then went on to become a scuba diving instructor, teaching others how to dive and was voted as Diving Officer and Treasurer for the Saffron Walden BSAC club too. Russell has dived all over the world, including the UK, on liveaboards in the Red Sea, the Caribbean, South Africa and the USA. Russell is experienced in all dive types, including drift diving, deep dives that involved decompression stops and recreational dives too.

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