About This Place
Mawan is a small island and shallow reef in central Komodo National Park. It is known for manta cleaning and feeding activity, giving divers and, in suitable surface conditions, snorkelers a chance to observe rays without the long southern run to Manta Alley.
The reef combines sand, coral patches and a sloping edge. Mantas may circle cleaning stations, travel along the reef or disappear into the blue; turtles and ordinary reef fish remain when the rays do not. Plankton can reduce visibility while improving feeding conditions, so clear water and manta activity do not always peak together.
Mawan is often described as easy because much of the action is shallow. That description ignores the tide. Current can cross the reef and groups must approach cleaning stations without blocking a manta's path or damaging the coral.
At a Glance
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Also known asMawan Manta Site, Mawan Komodo
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TypeDive Site, Snorkel Site, Wildlife Site
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Inside Komodo National ParkYes
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How to get thereLiveaboard, Speedboat Day Trip
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Travel time from Labuan BajoAbout 1.5-2 hours from Labuan Bajo depending on the boat
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LandingMooring / dinghy
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Last checked2026-09-12
What to Expect
Divers usually enter up-current and settle beside, rather than on top of, the cleaning area. Remaining low and still produces a better encounter than chasing a passing ray.
Most of the useful profile lies between about 5 and 18 metres, although the slope reaches deeper. Mantas are possible at the surface and at depth. Reef fish, turtles and coral provide a complete dive even when no ray appears.
Snorkeling is only appropriate when the crew can maintain a protected position and track the group from a tender.
Crowds and Timing
Mawan can attract several boats when manta reports circulate. Too many swimmers around a cleaning station change animal behavior and weaken the experience. Responsible guides limit the number of people in one spot, keep groups to the side and leave if the site becomes congested.
Dive and Snorkel Profile
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Depth range3-25 m
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CurrentModerate
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Dive typeDrift, Slope
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Visibility10-25 m
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CertificationOpen Water
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EntryBackroll
How to Visit
Mawan is reached by Komodo day boat or liveaboard. Choose an operator that briefs passive manta interaction and is willing to dive the reef without promising sightings. The captain may replace Mawan when wind, current or vessel traffic makes the site unsuitable.
Boats That Sail Here
Compare 12 bookable boats that include Mawan on published itineraries.
Who This Suits
Open Water divers with stable buoyancy can enjoy Mawan on a mild tide. Snorkelers need confident open-water skills and close tender support. It suits wildlife observers who accept that a natural manta encounter cannot be guaranteed.
What to Bring
- Mask and fins that fit securely
- Dive computer and delayed surface marker buoy for divers
- Rash guard or wetsuit and reef-safe sun protection
- Wide-angle camera with no loose accessories
- Water and a dry layer for the boat ride
Safety Notes
Current, boat traffic and separation are the practical hazards. Follow the guide's side of the reef, carry a surface marker when diving and stay inside the tender's working area when snorkeling.
Do not touch, feed or obstruct manta rays. Keep fins away from coral and avoid crowding a cleaning station. If current increases, leave the station with the guide rather than trying to hold position.
Photography Notes
Use a wide-angle lens, natural light near the surface and restrained strobe power at depth. Set exposure before a manta approaches, stay low beside the cleaning station and let the animal control the distance. Do not swim over the station or pursue a ray for a rear-view photograph.
Entrance Fee
This site is inside Komodo National Park. Statutory park, activity and vessel charges may apply and can be separate from the operator fare. Ask the operator to itemise the current charges before payment; conditions and permitted activities are confirmed through the park and operator process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mawan?
Mawan is in central Komodo National Park near other central reef and manta sites. The mapped area is around -8.5554, 119.6325.
Are manta rays guaranteed?
No. Mawan is a known cleaning and feeding area, but mantas are wild animals and may not be present during a particular visit.
How deep is the site?
Much of the useful manta and reef profile is shallow, commonly around 5–18 metres, with the slope continuing deeper.
Can Open Water divers visit?
Yes on a mild tide, provided buoyancy is controlled. The guide may raise the experience requirement when current increases.
Can non-divers snorkel at Mawan?
Sometimes. It depends on surface current, wind and boat traffic, and a crewed tender must closely support the group.
What should visitors do at a cleaning station?
Stay to the side, remain still and keep the manta's approach and exit routes open. Never chase, touch or swim directly over the station.
Is poor visibility a bad sign?
Not necessarily. Plankton reduces clarity but can attract feeding mantas. Visibility and wildlife activity can move in opposite directions.
How do I reach Mawan?
It is visited by Komodo day boats and liveaboards from Labuan Bajo, subject to the operator's route and the day's conditions.
What the Park Costs
| What you pay | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Park entrance, foreign visitor | Rp 250,000 ≈ $14 | per person, per day The statutory Class I entrance rate. The 150% holiday rule applies to Indonesian visitor and student rates, not this foreign visitor rate. |
| Park entrance, Indonesian visitor, normal day | Rp 50,000 ≈ $3 | per person, per day The normal-day Class I entrance rate. |
| Park entrance, Indonesian visitor, holiday or collective leave | Rp 75,000 ≈ $4 | per person, per day 150% of the normal Indonesian visitor rate on the dates covered by the statutory holiday rule. |
| Indonesian student group, normal day | Rp 25,000 ≈ $1 | per person, per day For Indonesian student groups of at least five people. |
| Indonesian student group, holiday or collective leave | Rp 37,500 ≈ $2 | per person, per day 150% of the normal student-group rate; the minimum group size remains five. |
| Scuba diving activity | Rp 25,000 ≈ $1 | per diver, per day A separate activity charge in addition to the applicable entrance fee. |
| Motorised vessel entry | Rp 100,000–200,000 per boat, per day | Rp 100,000 for 40–100 HP, Rp 150,000 for 101–500 HP, and Rp 200,000 above 500 HP. |
| Drone use | Rp 2,000,000 ≈ $112 | per unit, per day A separate special-use charge. Complete the required SiOra/SIMAKSI process before travel. |
- SiOra is the park’s e-ticketing and SIMAKSI system. Reserve before travel; Ministry guidance recommends completing the reservation by H-1. An operator can assist, and self-service is available at the Komodo Visitor Center and KP3 terminal.
- Payment is cashless through the methods available in SiOra, including BRIVA or bank transfer and supported e-wallets. Keep the e-ticket and ensure the traveller details are correct.
- A 1,000-visitor daily quota has applied since 1 April 2026 to the main visitor islands and 23 dive sites. Availability therefore depends on the travel date and registered itinerary.
- The final SiOra total can include entrance, activity, vessel and special-use charges. Ask the handling operator for an itemised total before issuance.
- Official public guidance does not state one universal refund or rescheduling rule for every reservation. Confirm the current SiOra terms in writing before the ticket is issued, including treatment of weather disruption.
Statutory fees under Peraturan Pemerintah No. 36 Tahun 2024, in force since 30 October 2024. Verified 31 August 2026 against the official PP 36/2024 schedule, the Ministry of Forestry SiOra notice and the Ministry’s 2026 quota notice. Amounts are payable in rupiah; dollar figures are courtesy estimates converted at Rp 17,900 and rounded.
Marine Life
Activities
Cruise Areas
Location
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Mawan, central Komodo National Park, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
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