Manta Point (Russell Islands) - Tulagi & Florida Islands

22m Max

15-30m Vis

boat

Site Overview

Manta Point (Russell Islands) is one of the signature dive sites of Tulagi & Florida Islands in the Solomon Islands. Manta Point in the Russell Islands is a shallow cleaning-station channel where resident reef mantas gather year-round, best from April to September, alongside schooling barracuda, reef sharks and eagle rays. The site reaches a maximum depth of about 22 m, with an average depth near 14 m, and its cleaning station and channel topography is draped in coral and rock. Marine life is the headline attraction, with reef manta ray, great barracuda, grey reef shark, spotted eagle ray, cleaner wrasse, schooling jacks regularly recorded here, drawn in by the moderate currents and the rich Coral Triangle productivity of the region. Visibility typically ranges from 15 to 30 m, while water temperatures hold a consistent 27 to 30°C year-round, comfortable in a 3 to 5 mm wetsuit. Conditions suit beginner divers, and with the right guide the site delivers both the drama of its cleaning station and channel and intimate encounters with the smaller residents. Local operators run regular trips from Tulagi, and the protected, low-tourism setting keeps coral cover dense and fish life abundant, making Manta Point (Russell Islands) a genuine standout on any Solomon Islands itinerary. Divers who time their visit to the calm season will find the most predictable conditions, though the site rewards repeat visits across the year.

Dive Briefing

"The dive at Manta Point (Russell Islands) begins with a thorough operator briefing covering the site layout, expected marine life and emergency procedures, followed by a controlled entry and a short transfer from Tulagi. Descending toward the cleaning station and channel profile, divers are immediately surrounded by reef manta ray, great barracuda, grey reef shark, spotted eagle ray, cleaner wrasse, schooling jacks, with the reef and structure revealing more detail the closer you look. The maximum depth reaches about 22 m while the average sits near 14 m, so a dive computer and disciplined gas planning keep the profile safe and comfortable. Currents are described as moderate, and the guide chooses the entry time to make the most of slack or mild flow, using a reef hook or DSMB when needed. Neutral buoyancy protects the fragile coral and the group stays close to manage depth and any surge. The safety stop is completed in open water on a DSMB, and the boat follows the bubbles to collect divers at the exit point for a relaxed return to base. Manta Point is best dived as a stationary or slowly-drifting dive at the shallow cleaning station, ideally on a mild current when the mantas queue to be cleaned. Year-round residents are most reliable April to September. Water stays 27 to 30°C, and a 3 mm wetsuit is ample. A calm, patient approach on the sand keeps the rays comfortable."