Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre

We just had a weekend dive trip at Manta Lodge and it was awesome! The hospitality of the team was great and transfers to and from the ferry are offered.

Accommodation
We had a private room (suitable for 3 people, 1 double and a single bed). The rooms are basic (it's a hostel) but they are quite comfortable and all have air-conditioning. Our room also had a bar fridge as well as tea and coffee facilities. The shared amenities were clean and spacious.

Diving
Manta Lodge is an SSI dive shop and the skill and knowledge of the staff was great. Their dive briefings really put you at ease if it's your first time. I can't comment on the hire gear as I have my own. The boat entry into the surf is pretty cool, haven't done that before. Snacks were provided on the surface interval which is nice. One of the best parts was the hot water waiting back at the shop. Cleaning dive gear in warm water is an experience! And the outdoor hot showers are a great way to warm back up. I will definitely be back. Very impressed!

The organization at Manta Lodge Scuba Centre is simply superb! From booking to the dive itself, everything was smooth and professional. The staff were extremely friendly and consistently demonstrated expertise in their field. I highly recommend Manta Lodge to any diver!

A great hostel on Straddie with clean rooms, great staff and good location. The diving is amazing and the team puts a lot of love and effort into their work. If you are a certified diver in the Brisbane this place is a must!

Dives instructors were awesome, super friendly, and really patient. Got us set up perfectly as beginners, and then took us down to hang with manta rays and turtles! Incredible day trip from Brisbane! Loved it!

I cannot begin to express how amazing Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre is!!
Everything was flawless and the days ran so smooth!
Our skippers and guides for the whole stay were just incredible.
Patchy and Miffy, you have given me a dive trip to remember and went above and beyond!
Hands down, best bunch of people on straddy!!!!
I cannot wait to come back.

My friend and I are beginner divers and went out with Jade and Dan for an afternoon dive. Jade was so calm, kind and patient with us and it really made me feel at ease and able to enjoy the beautiful marine life! The whole dive team at Manta were fantastic! Would recommend.

I had an amazing experience here!

After years of not diving I came here for a week while traveling around. At arrival was immediately able to join the refresher that was happening the next day. James was absolutely amazing he made me really confident in my skills again above and below the water.
Later in the week I was able to join a dive trip with the boat and had an absolute blast. Saw amazing sea life from dolphins to manta rays and sharks. James’ energy was as amazing and expressive underwater as above water, creating a lovely experience. Thank you to all the dive staff who made my stay amazing.
In high season you’ll want to book the dives beforehand though since they get booked full pretty quickly.

Next to that the hostel is a great place for solo travelers, there are enough friendly people around to chat and have a fun time with. The hostel is clean and has everything you need and more.

Highly recommend this place if you want to go somewhere to relax, work on the island, and/or have some great experiences in nature (on land, above the water, and below)!

Comfortable chill out area. Very close to the beach. Good kitchen equipment. Comfy beds and enough space in the room

Exceptional Dive Experience with Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of diving with Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre, and it was nothing short of an outstanding experience. From the moment I arrived, it was evident that this dive operation was well-versed in creating a seamless and enjoyable diving adventure.

Impeccable Organisation: The entire dive trip was impeccably organised, and it was evident that the team behind Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre truly knew what they were doing. Furthermore, I was genuinely impressed with their professional Nitrox analysing station, which added an extra layer of safety to our dives, and the dive team's prompt assistance in fixing my buddy's regulator showcased their dedication to ensuring our underwater adventures were trouble-free.

Thorough Briefings: Before each dive, we received thorough briefings from Ian (coxswain) and Santiago (dive guide) that left no room for uncertainty. These briefings instilled confidence and ensured that we were well-prepared for what lay beneath the surface. The attention to detail and commitment to safety were truly commendable.

Skilled Dive Guide: One of the standout features of this dive operation was the exceptional dive guide Santiago. Despite having a diverse group of divers with varying experience levels, he handled the situation very well. His expertise and ability to adapt to different skill levels ensured that every diver had a memorable experience.

Soliciting Feedback: I was pleasantly surprised when Santiago actively sought feedback after the trip. It's rare to encounter such a level of professionalism and a genuine desire to improve the diving experience. This commitment to continuous improvement speaks volumes about the dedication of Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre.

Well-Organised Facilities: The dive centre's facilities were a diver's dream. The gear cleaning area was well-equipped with hot water tubs and an abundance of hangers, making post-dive cleanup a breeze. Additionally, the availability of hot showers for divers was a welcome treat after a day underwater.

Accommodation: The accommodation provided by Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre was both comfortable and clean. It was evident that they take pride in maintaining a tidy environment. The common areas in the hostel were inviting and provided a great space to relax.

In conclusion, my experience with Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre surpassed all expectations. Their dedication to safety, organisation, and customer satisfaction was evident in every aspect of the dive trip and accommodation. I left with not only unforgettable underwater memories but also a deep appreciation for a dive operation that goes above and beyond to ensure a remarkable experience for its guests.

I will be returning to Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre in mid-November, and this time, I'll be bringing a larger group of divers with me. I have no doubt that they will be equally impressed by the exceptional service and unforgettable diving experiences that await.

Unreal double dive with these guys at Manta Bommie!
Crew were excellent and knew the dive site inside out which meant we saw a little bit of everything.
Shout out to Jade, here’s your manta photo 😊

These legends are the best. I just finished my open water course with Ian. He is an incredible instructor; by the book all the way, while being super relaxed and consoling. All the staff are awesome and there’s no better place to go diving, regardless of experience. Big thanks to Ian for the training and guidance the whole way through, and to James for providing the contagious enthusiasm when I needed it.

One of the most amazing dives sites, the sea life was abundant and the huge manta rays proved to be the absolute highlight of all my diving trips thus far. Staff were incredible and safety was kept at the upmost importance at all times, with everything explained thoroughly and easily. Scuba gear was new and in perfect condition, and I couldn’t recommend this dive site/crew more than enough. 1000/10 and will definitely be back!

I had 6 amazing dives here over 3 days and loved all of them. Lots of Grey Nurse Sharks, Ray's and even a Manta! Thank you to Meri and Santiago for being amazing guides and the crew of the boat for being professional, accommodation and giving great breifs!

Good quality diving center. All staff very professional and the dive masters were exceptionally good: intense, caring, organized and good fun as well. The diving itself was great: nurse sharks below and humpback whales above us. Very lucky, but it’s worth to give it a try. Highly recommended.

After moving from Melbourne to Gold Coast two years ago, we had tried another dive centre off Runaway Bay, really average experience, the dive sites terrible with visibility two metres which really turned us off diving in Gold Coast.

We then thought we would give it another try with Manta Lodge a year and a half later and so glad we did.

First dive so many huge schools of fish and relatively easy dive, soooo good.

Second dive... MANTA!!!

Not just a Manta but one that was 3-4 metres wide, hung around for 5 minutes or so, just super cool. Saw beautiful 2 metre Leopard Shark, 3 or 4 Shovel nose, couple of eagle rays, turtles....seriously an epic dive!

For someone who dives Maldives regularly to see this in my own back yard was just amazing.

What was a breath of fresh air was the ease of transport, ferry ride, bus etc was super well organised and went really quickly.

Lastly, our dive master Hannah was a gem, lovely girl, experience, safety number one priority, just cant go wrong.

Lastly, on our way in we were surfing/drifting the waves with a school of dolphins, what a day!

Thank you guys, will be back - Dave & Eva

I did my Open Water course with Manta last weekend and it was brilliant. Really supportive teachers/ Dive Masters, and friendly, super encouraging crew. They were big, fun days -- first in the pool and then out to the beautiful reef around Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). We saw so much marine life, including three humpback whales when we were motoring out to Flat Rock. Highly recommend!!

Highly recommended experience! Stayed here for a night and 4 dives for their very value package and it was amazing 👍

Dive shop was professional and the dive sites, especially Manta Bommie, were much better than expected. Of course, shoutout to Felipe and James who really made for a different experience by giving personal service and being FUN and helpful! Even if the dives were bad (which they were not, we saw mantas!), it would have still been an unforgettable experience because their passion and joy for diving and marinelife were just wonderfully infectious.

Would definitely be back and would recommend to divers of any level, because they will take care of you, make you feel super welcome and comfortable. Big thanks to James who was dive guide for my second day and was super patient with me when I had equalisation issues. I was ready to give up and go back to the boat, but he said, “Just one more try” and the sinus gods heard that and suddenly my ears cleared. Thankful for that because that dive was the best out of the four!

Stayed a night in their 4-bed dorm and was very pleased to find that the sheets didn’t itch at all and were clean. Very important if you have eczema and bedbug allergy like me.

Day trips are entirely possible, just take the Gold Cats ferry which leaves every hour from Cleveland. If you were staying a night like me, I would recommend bringing cup noodles or microwaveable food from town for dinner and breakfast so you don’t have to walk far.

Had a great day diving with these crew, led by James and Nick. Super friendly fun vibes, without compromising on safety and organization. Saw some beautiful marine life at the dive sites including rays, turtles, lobsters, ells and plenty of fish and coral. Loved the steaming hot showers afterwards and the tractor towing!

I went for a dive with the manga lodge yesterday and I was a bit nervous as I have not done many dives and did not come with a buddy. My guides were Tyler and Jose and they made me feel so comfortable the whole time in an out of the water and were very encouraging. The boat ride was so much fun as well. We saw plenty of wobegongs and banjo sharks as well as moray eels and large schools of fish. Thank you so much guys I will definitely be back!

Fantastic - two days diving along with two nights in the hostel. Diving is world class - had the privilege of seeing a manta and a leopard shark. Filipe and James are great people, very experienced and have a passion for the area.

Hostel is usual YHA standard. Decent facilities and friendly staff.

Will be back!