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Makassar Reef (Manta Point)

Okay, Makassar Reef. Or as we’ve always called it, Manta Point. This site isn't about deep canyons or intricate coral gardens, though there are patches of hard coral and some impressive Gorgonian fans. It’s a shallower, sandy bottom with scattered rubble and bommies, stretching out into the blue. You’ll spend most of your time drifting along, eyes peeled, sometimes just a few metres down, sometimes closer to twenty. What we love about Makassar is its honesty. It's not trying to be anything but a cleaning station and feeding ground for mantas, and it delivers. We’ve had days here where the mantas just kept coming, circling back, gliding overhead, sometimes so close you can hear the faint rush of water over their wings. The sheer scale of them, shadows passing over the sand, is something that never gets old. Look for the little wrasse darting around them, cleaning parasites. Currents can be strong, a proper Komodo conveyor belt, so be ready for a drift. We always suggest going in with a good reef hook – not to hold onto the mantas, obviously, but to keep yourself steady on a patch of dead coral or rock while you wait for the show. Visibility can vary, especially after rain, but even in murkier water, the mantas cut through it like ghosts. It’s not a macro site, though you might spot a Fringe-eye Flathead camouflaged on the sand if you’re patient. But honestly, your gaze will be fixed upwards and outwards. Makassar Reef is for anyone who loves big pelagics and the thrill of a good drift.