Diving with Mola Mola and Manta

See the underwater wonders of the Penida Islands.
Bali and the surrounding islands are known as some of the best dive locations in the region, attracting divers from all over the world. Encounters with sunfish (mola mola) and manta rays are especially fascinating.

The following guidelines for divers and dive schools were developed by the Coral Triangle Center (CTC), the Indonesian government, and Gahawisri Imata to protect these species and their habitat.

Oceanic Sunfish (Mola Mola) and Manta Ray Interaction – Code of Conduct

These guidelines are designed to provide a safe diving experience while ensuring the lowest impact on the sunfish and manta ray population of Bali and surrounding dive sites. The aim of developing the code of conduct for sunfish and manta ray interactions is to ensure they are able to settle onto cleaning stations without being disturbed.

What exactly is an underwater cleaning station?

Smaller reef fish, such as parasitic copepods and various species of small cleaner wrasses, congregate to form cleaning stations to clean larger aquatic life. Sunfish, manta rays, sea turtles, white and blacktip reef sharks and other fish known as clients utilize such stations across Indonesia’s marine ecosystems.

Once settled, the sunfish and manta ray can remain on a cleaning station for longer periods, offering better quality interactions for divers. We ask that everyone in the diving community help us get the word out about these guidelines.

Diving with the Mola Mola Sunfish

• Always approach sunfish very slowly within its field of view
• Stay close to the reef and do not surround the sunfish
• If sunfish are just entering the cleaning station, do not approach until the cleaning has begun and the fish have been stationary for at least 1 minute
• Maintain a minimum distance of 3 meters (or 3 body lengths) from the closest sunfish when animal is at a cleaning station
• Maintain a minimum distance of 10 meters [or 5 body lengths] when animal is unsettled [not in cleaning) and considering approach to the reef
• Do Not touch or feed the sunfish
• Do not swim behind the sunfish as this can startle the animal
• Do not swim under the sunfish as your bubbles will disturb cleaning behavior
• If at all possible, you should not get in the way of a sunfish’s escape path to the reef or its way onto a cleaning station
• If a sunfish approaches you, remain still and do not touch It
• If you touch it you will remove the layer of mucus that protects it against infection
• Do not use flash photography as this often disturbs the sunfish
• Do not use personal underwater motorized propulsion vehicles or make unnecessary loud noises
• Do not touch coral and take any marine life

Code of Conduct for Dive Operators

• Distribute the above guidelines to your dive guides and have them read and distribute them to their diver groups
• For boats carrying more than four divers, stagger the entry into the water to avoid overcrowding the site
• Limit dive groups to no more than five divers and one instructor, with all interactions governed by the dive guide
• Have the capability to anchor in at least 60 meter depth
• Not to anchor in less than 40 meter depth unless clearly a sand area away from reefs and dive sites
• Not to anchor within marine tourism zone
• Use mooring buoys when available
• Communicate with other dive operators. Including land based operators, to arrange dive schedules and minimize having excess numbers of divers in one location
• Grouper, coral trout, napoleon fish, parrot fish, giant trevally, shark, lobster, and shellfish are all species you should avoid buying because they are endangered or overfished
• Instruct dive guides not to manipulate marine life for the benefit of guests 
• Instruct boat captains to slowly approach the dive site and stay at least 10 meters away from the surface marker buoy
• Return all plastics and non-biodegradable garbage to port
• Organic materials and waste water will be disposed of well away from reefs
• It is the responsibility of the captain (by law) and cruise directors as owner representative, to ensure garbage is disposed of properly

Code of Conduct for Manta Ray Interaction

• Always approach manta ray’s very slowly within its field of view
• Stay close to the reef and do not surround the manta ray
• Maintain a minimum distance of 3 meters (or 3 body lengths) from the closest manta ray when animal is at a cleaning station
• Maintain a minimum distance of 10 meters (or 5 body lengths), when animal is unsettled (not in cleaning)
• Do Not touch or feed manta ray’s
• Do not swim behind a manta ray as this can startle them
• Do not swim under the fish as your bubbles will disturb cleaning behavior
• Whenever possible, do not block the manta ray’s pathway onto a cleaning station
• If a manta ray approaches you, remain still and do not touch it, if you touch it you will remove the layer of mucus that protects it against infection
• Do not use flash photography as this often disturbs the fish
• Do not use personal underwater motorized propulsion vehicles or make unnecessary loud noises
• Do not touch coral and lake any marine life
• Stay 3 meters from the cleaning station rock and do not swim directly above (also for snorkeler)
• Enter and exit at least 30 meters from cleaning station
• Only dive with companies which have endorsed and adhere to the Code of Conduct