Longstanding community account confirming multiple cleaning stations and the site's popularity with liveaboards and nearby resorts.
Channel-edge manta cleaning station in South Ari Atoll.
Channel-edge manta cleaning station in South Ari Atoll.
Rangali Madivaru is the manta-focused section of reef at the mouth of Rangali Kandu, on the western edge of South Ari's protected outer reef. Divers work a long wall-and-slope profile with a shallow cleaning plateau where outgoing current, plankton, and cleaner fish regularly draw reef mantas across the site. The north side is more craggy with cracks and small overhangs, while the south side eases into a gentler slope with coral bommies. Grey reef sharks, turtles, schooling jacks and snappers, and other reef fish patrol the edges, and timing the dive to current direction matters more than raw depth for comfort and manta action.
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
9m - 30m
Depth Note
The site starts on a shallow reef plateau used as a manta cleaning area, then slopes down the reef edge to about 30 m with cracks and small overhangs on the northern side.
Best Season
October to April, especially during northeast monsoon windows with outgoing current and active manta cleaning.
Typical Conditions
Boat dive on an exposed channel-edge reef with moderate to strong tidal flow, a shallow cleaning plateau, and clearer water in calm-weather windows.
Hazards, restrictions, and access requirements.
Key Hazards
Safety Notes
Brief current direction before entry, descend promptly, and stay low and still around the cleaning area so passing mantas and other divers can move cleanly through the station.
Legal Notes
The western reef edge of this site lies within South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), so dives should follow local protected-area and wildlife interaction rules set by operators and authorities.
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
This is usually dived as a current-aware boat drop, settling low near the cleaning area or moving between stations if manta activity shifts. It rewards calm buoyancy, quick descents, and good awareness of changing flow.
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
Planning answers for access, conditions, timing, and site logistics.
Last Updated
Research Sources
Longstanding community account confirming multiple cleaning stations and the site's popularity with liveaboards and nearby resorts.
Official SAMPA page confirming protected-area status and the presence of corals, turtles, manta rays, and sharks in this section of South Ari.
Manta Point/Rangali Madivaru overview with channel location, reef shape, and outgoing-current cleaning-station details.
South Ari listing with intermediate difficulty, moderate current, manta-focused wildlife, and seasonality notes.
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