Manta Alley
Manta Alley located about Tora Langkoi Bay was described in the
briefing as a deep gully that funnels the changing tide at up to
3-4 knots at the top and bottom of the tide, and could still be
running at up to 1 knot during our dive at "slack water".
A bit of a giveaway from the name of the site, but this signature
Komodo dive is the main location in Komodo to find manta rays -
often as many as 10 or 20. It's a rock islet that just punctures
the sea's surface in a small craggy chain, inside the bay along
the south coast of Komodo.
Streamed out on the end of your reef hook, are exposed to the full
force of the current, so your valve free-flows as you face into
it, your hose vibrates like a guitar string and mask is likely to
fill with water whenever turn a head
You'll start your dive to the east of the rocks where another submerged
mound rises to just a few metres below the surface. In the lee area
between this mound and the rocky islet, where the maximum depth
is 15 metres, there are almost always a couple of juvenile mantas
playing around.
Another option however, is to drop down the steep eastern slope
of the mound to the site's deepest section. Follow the slope of
orange soft corals and encrusting invertebrates down to depth where
giant trevally, white tip and black tip reef sharks roam in search
of food. Make your way round to the north and in the direction of
the islet chain, keeping alert for some huge black fantail rays
resting on the bottom of the reef's substrate.
Eventually you arrive at a series of 3 underwater channels that
run between the islet and its most northerly rocky protrusion. The
channels are 18 metres or so deep and quite wide. Often schools
of large bumphead parrotfish hang out here and mantas circle this
area too.
Once you're through the channels onto the west side of the islet,
you'll be out of bottom time and making your way up to 5 metres.
Again the shallows here seem to be a favourite jaunt with manta
rays. If the rays are not present then watch the surge areas close
to the rocks. These are home to some formidably sized fish such
as mangrove red snapper, emporers and giant sweetlips. Great barracuda
often patrol here too.
Manta Alley is always one of the most frequently requested dives
on any Komodo liveaboard, provided that you can handle the chill
of these southern waters.
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