Meet the site
Point Maud is the headland just north of Coral Bay town, and the reef off it and towards Bateman Bay is the centre of Coral Bay's famous manta ray activity. Coral Bay hosts the largest population of reef manta rays in Western Australia, present year-round, and mantas visit cleaning stations here to have parasites removed by cleaner wrasse.
Most visitors meet the mantas on snorkel tours using a spotter plane (see the separate Coral Bay Manta Ray Swim row), but dive boats also visit cleaning stations when the mantas are in. At a station, divers who keep low, still and to the side can watch mantas hover and circle at close range, sometimes several at once, often with turtles and reef sharks nearby. Individual mantas are identified by their belly markings; one female seen regularly by operators has been named 'Woopy'.
About Coral Bay: the town is a small resort settlement on Bill's Bay at the southern end of the Ningaloo Coast, about 150 km south of Exmouth. The outer reef lies close to shore, so both lagoon snorkels and outer-reef dives are short boat rides away, and Coral Bay is home to Western Australia's largest resident population of reef manta rays, seen year-round. Much of the water around town lies within the Maud Sanctuary Zone, where fishing and collecting are prohibited. Advanced divers favour the 'cuts', where open-ocean water funnels through gaps in the reef and brings in sharks, mantas and pelagics, while the calm lagoon suits training and beginners. The 2025 marine heatwave affected northern and central Ningaloo most; southern areas including Coral Bay sustained less damage, according to AIMS.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Point Maud Manta Cleaning Station is recorded as Reef in Ningaloo – Coral Bay. The listed access is boat (day trip). Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Point Maud Manta Cleaning Station suitable for my certification?
The record lists Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Point Maud Manta Cleaning Station through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Reef manta rays, cleaner wrasse, turtles, reef sharks, reef fish
Location
Manta ray cleaning area off Point Maud, north of Coral Bay town, at the northern edge of the Maud Sanctuary Zone.
Facilities nearby
Coral Bay boat ramp 2 km south of town; town has toilets, showers, cafés, caravan parks and a dive shop with air fills.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
aussiemarineadventures.com.auningalooreefdive.comcoralbay.infoen.wikivoyage.orgone-million-places.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.