During this special expedition to Komodo National Park, we’ll have the opportunity to experience and participate in cutting-edge conservation research to protect one of the ocean’s most majestic animals. Manta Trust scientists will be collecting photographic identification images of all mantas encountered throughout the expedition – a task that guests are welcome and encouraged to participate in. Join us and discover a world beneath the waves like no other!

The diversity of terrestrial and marine ecosystems in Komodo National Park is so unique that the park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. The combination of marine and land wildlife, reef-dwelling and pelagic creatures, vertebrates and invertebrates, shallow coral reefs, isolated pinnacles, drop-offs and exhilarating drift dives produces exceptional diving, as you would expect of a key location within the Coral Triangle – the epicentre for the planet’s marine biodiversity.

With one of the world’s largest populations of reef mantas, resident year-round, Komodo National Park is among the best destinations to encounter these magnificent creatures. It also offers the possibility of observing the elegant black morph reef mantas which are typical of this region’s population. During the expedition, we will visit multiple, well-known manta ray sites within the marine park, both in the north and south of Komodo, including the cleaning stations of Karang Makassar and Manta Alley where mantas often congregate in large numbers to socialise and mate during this season.

Through a series of activities and presentations led by the Manta Trust expert on topics covering local marine species and habitats, participants are sure to leave with an increased awareness of the threats facing our oceans and, perhaps more importantly, how we can help.

Manta Trust scientists will be collecting photographic identification images of all mantas encountered throughout the expedition – a task that guests are welcome and encouraged to participate in. All new manta rays will be added to the database and guests will be invited to name them.

Komodo offers so much more than manta ray encounters; With dives at famous sites such as Batu Bolong, Crystal Rock and Shotgun!, we will have the opportunity to experience its kaleidoscopic diversity throughout the expedition. Schools of trevally, white tip reef sharks, gardens of colourful soft corals, barracudas, bizarre nudibranchs, and of course, a visit on-land to encounter the legendary Komodo dragon!