Coral Sea, Australia

    Manta Ray Bay

    Best months: Mar–Jul

    Why dive here

    With 113+ marine species recorded in the area - including dugongs, grey reef sharks, humpback whales, sea turtles and tiger sharks - Manta Ray Bay offers some of Coral Sea's richest reef diving. Water ranges 25-30°C, warmest January, February, March.

    Best timeMar–Jul
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeDugongs, Grey Reef Sharks, Humpback Whales, Sea Turtles and Tiger Sharks · 113+ species recorded
    Water25-30°C · warmest January, February, March
    CharacterReef dive
    StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

    Manta Ray Bay, it’s fair to say, delivers on its name – though not quite how you might expect. Forget actual mantas; here, we're talking about a couple of surprisingly charming metal ray statues that make for an odd but memorable backdrop. The real stars are the perpetually curious Maori Wrasse, especially George, who’s practically a dive guide himself. We love finning through the maze of coral bommies, watching the fusiliers thick as soup, and the way the giant trevallies and batfish just cruise by, unbothered. It’s a fantastic spot for a relaxed shallow dive, topping out around 15 metres. Visibility can be a bit variable – we’ve seen it drop to 10-12 metres, especially after a bit of weather, but that just adds to the atmosphere among the coral structures. Beyond George and his friends, keep an eye out for nudibranchs tucked away, and the usual suspects of reef fish: butterflyfish, parrotfish, and giant morays peeking from their holes. This bay really suits divers who appreciate consistent, friendly marine interactions over deep, dramatic walls.

    Today05:3818:0512h 27m daylightGolden hour 17:36

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Manta Ray Bay

    Manta Ray Bay Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Manta Ray Bay, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-16.5, 148) (0km away)

    ExcellentGreatGoodFairPoor★Best monthsThis month

    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    26°C

    79°F · Range: 25.4–29°C

    Current Speed

    10.3 cm/s

    Direction: SE (119.1°)

    Salinity

    35.38 PSU

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)

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