Sangalaki Dive Lodge

[Waterbaby09]

Just came across this - would like everyone to know that we were at Nabucco in October 2008, dived 6 times at Sangalaki - no mantas. No one else that went in the 10 days we were there saw them either. We did see PHENOMENAL numbers of fishermen on the manta dive sites. If nothing else I would say there boat engine noise would have scared them away. Have asked Jeremy Stein about this but he does not reply to emails.

 

[Bali Diver]

Knowing this area very sad to hear this,have heard of fisherman around this area also and would like to think that things are being protected in this area by the owners and more so that you tell
us that you have had a email reply to to your email

Very Sad !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MartianBeerPig]

I hope it's just not the season for them. My understanding is that they are more common in earlier in the year.

 

[Jeremy P. Stein]

Hi Waterbaby09 and other interested watchers.

I do reply to all emails that I receive, so if I haven't replied to you, that simply indicated that I haven't received it. Please resend to me and I'll reply to your queries.

The most Mantas I personally saw was in November 07 when there were probably over 100 of them feeding on the surface. No, I didn't count them, but recall thinking that I could run on their backs for maybe 2-300 metres (if of course that wasn't a cruel thing to do!). Since then, we see them most days but unfortunately not in their hundreds. The most, again feeding on the surface, was around 25-30. Underwater, we see them but not in groups, more in singles.

So, the Mantas are still there, but not quite in their hundreds as previous years' publicity would suggest there were. Sure, we can still focus on looking for Mantas and be disappointed on a dive. So my advice to our divers is to enjoy the dive and the hundreds of special marinelife you'll encounter and, if we encounter a Manta, or get engulfed in 'Manta-Soup' then it's a huge bonus.

95% of all guest diving from Sangalaki Dive Lodge for 5 days or more this year have been entirely happy with their Manta sightings!

If I wanted to see the Barracudas & Eagle Rays in the channel at Maratua, I would stay on Maratua and dive with the guides who know that site on a daily basis. Likewise, if you want to see the Mantas, maybe you should stay on Sangalaki!

 

[Jeremy P. Stein]

Just came across this - would like everyone to know that we were at Nabucco in October 2008, dived 6 times at Sangalaki - no mantas. No one else that went in the 10 days we were there saw them either. We did see PHENOMENAL numbers of fishermen on the manta dive sites. If nothing else I would say there boat engine noise would have scared them away. Have asked Jeremy Stein about this but he does not reply to emails.

Have just heard that there was a National Fishing competition around all the Derawan Islands in October. It is held by the Governer once a year!

Anyway, my email is jeremy at sangalaki.net