Mary Island Manta Point - Mborokua (Mary Island) – Remote Pelagics

25m Max

20-40m Vis

liveaboard

Site Overview

Mary Island Manta Point is one of the signature dive sites of Mborokua (Mary Island) – Remote Pelagics in the Solomon Islands. Mary Island Manta Point is a western-side cleaning station visited only by liveaboard, where reef mantas gather with the occasional eagle ray. The site reaches a maximum depth of about 25 m, with an average depth near 14 m, and its cleaning station and wall topography is draped in coral and rock. Marine life is the headline attraction, with reef manta ray, spotted eagle ray, grey reef shark, cleaner wrasse, schooling jack, soft coral regularly recorded here, drawn in by the moderate currents and the rich Coral Triangle productivity of the region. Visibility typically ranges from 20 to 40 m, while water temperatures hold a consistent 27 to 30°C year-round, comfortable in a 3 to 5 mm wetsuit. Conditions suit advanced divers, and with the right guide the site delivers both the drama of its cleaning station and wall and intimate encounters with the smaller residents. Local operators run regular trips from Liveaboard (Munda staging), and the protected, low-tourism setting keeps coral cover dense and fish life abundant, making Mary Island Manta Point 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 Mary Island Manta Point 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 Liveaboard (Munda staging). Descending toward the cleaning station and wall profile, divers are immediately surrounded by reef manta ray, spotted eagle ray, grey reef shark, cleaner wrasse, schooling jack, soft coral, with the reef and structure revealing more detail the closer you look. The maximum depth reaches about 25 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. Mary Island Manta Point is best dived from a liveaboard as a stationary or slowly-drifting dive at the western cleaning stations, ideally on a mild current when the reef mantas queue to be cleaned. Water stays 27 to 30°C, and a 5 mm wetsuit is ample. A calm, patient approach on the sand keeps the rays comfortable, and you ascend on a DSMB."