What's the best manta experience between Bali and Komodo north/south?

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I currently live in Bali and have been to both Komodo and Nusa Penida on dive trips. Admittedly I've only been the once to Komodo. My opinion might not be based on the most experience....

Honestly I think you will be happy with either destination. For me, in order to see Mantas, diving Manta point in NP is a little easier as it's still part of the Bali province and less headache to get to, especially at the moment. NP also has Mola-mola too (not sure if Komodo does?). On my particular trip to Komodo I found the Mantas to seem a little bigger than the ones I saw after in NP - however I'm pretty sure they are both reef manta species and probably the same size (just my mind playing tricks)

Manta bay in NP - I've never seen any mantas there, and the dive shops tell me there hasn't been any for a long time now, so not sure about that one.

On rare occasion (very rare) we get Manta ray passing by here in Amed (Bali), and tech diver friends see Mola-mola quite often here at depths beyond 50m.
 
South Komodo’s Manta Alley was incredible!!! As expected, there was pretty strong current so we were hooked into the channel for almost the entire dive with 13+ mantas that we could count through the viz hanging out with us and just coasting in the current. They were directly above us and I could barely get my camera rig up to photograph them. They were also next to us on the left and right, in front, and behind. It was so bleeping awesome. I’ve been to Komodo a few times and we’ve seen mantas at other sites but this was next level. It made us forget how cold it was (68F!!!).
 
Bali is where I was blessed with manta, Mola Mola and whale shark, all on the same trip.
 
If we ignore all the other diving, and just focus on the Manta Bay/Point/Alley type dive sites in Nusa Penida, Komodo North and Komodo South.. which one offers the best experience? Ie. Most manta's, biggest manta's, best vis, easiest currents/conditions?

I'm trying to plan a trip to Indonesia and I'd like to spend a week in Bali, and a week in Komodo, but having trouble figuring out exactly what is the best month to do it. And if there are manta's virtually year round at Nusa Penida, then maybe I don't have to go to Komodo during peak manta season there, since I will have already gotten my fix in Nusa Penida. Unless the experience is much better in Komodo, or the manta's are bigger, more plentiful, clearer waters, etc?

Has anyone done both?
FYI, I'll be in Bali and crossing to Komodo and back to Bali from 2nd half of July to first week of August. I'll be diving in Manta & Mola Mola sites (Manta Point, Crystal Bay & Blue Corner) in Bali and Manta sites in Komodo (Makassar Reef & Manta Alley). Let me know if the timing matches yours, so we can meet and dive together.
 
The great white showed up a couple of weeks after I'd left from that trip. Seeing a great white is not on my list, so I was fine with that! :)
 
The great white showed up a couple of weeks after I'd left from that trip. Seeing a great white is not on my list, so I was fine with that! :)
I definitely want to see a Great White!! Just definitely not when I am down in the water… from the boat ok!
 
:D Exactly!
 

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