I stayed at Manta Lodge in Room 103 over the weekend for my birthday, and I couldn’t have chosen a better place.
Everything was spotlessly clean. The bed was very comfortable, the shower had plenty of hot water, the blanket was thick and cozy, and the air conditioning kept the room warm and comfortable during the colder nights. Having a mini fridge and a mirror in the room was also very convenient.
The young man at reception was incredibly friendly and welcoming. I was travelling with a friend, and he took the time to explain everything to us, making us feel at home from the moment we arrived.
The reception area is connected to a dive shop, which is absolutely adorable if you love diving. There are so many interesting diving items and accessories to browse.
The location is fantastic right across from the beach. Having breakfast while looking out at the ocean was the perfect way to start the day.
The shared kitchen is one of the best I’ve seen. It has absolutely everything you could need: plates, mugs, glasses, pots, pans, cooking utensils, and more. You don’t even need to bring much food because there’s a supermarket just a short walk away with surprisingly good prices.
It was my first visit to North Stradbroke Island, and staying at Manta Lodge made my birthday even more special. The accommodation was comfortable, welcoming, in the perfect location, and offered amazing value for money.
I would definitely stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the island!

It's just an ok. Standard operation. But a bit overrated. I've dive around many places but here I felt a bit disappointing since it all totally a badluck (the dive guide you will go with and how they pair the buddy up). Okay you co.e here alone you then buddy up with open water diver with 8 dives.

I got about 180 dives with stress and rescue cert. but both dives got buddy me up with OW divers 8 dives and 20 dives, but I also feel got policing around. And then there's a person got seasick they has to come in to the beach drop a person on the beach and change the dive site to a shallow place. It's become one of the most boring dive half of the dive circle around the sand, and be policing around when I try search thing myself! None of the dive guide today have show me any nudibraches, so disappointing, she spend her air police me around instead of help me find more lives to see! Once I found it myself at almost the end of the dive, I got tapped on the shoulder while I was trying to focus the Starry Night!
If she just let me do it it will be about a minutes but why keep tapping me. Darling I saw you timing me I am not stupid, I sign you okay I know it. And when we surface we wait to get on the boat still!

They operate well but I think
it's a bit overrated, good for open water. Got to much advantage of the location, take it for granted.

It's the first time feel being police around the 10 - 13 m depth this is not okay.
Oh dear. There must be a better good reason to recommend anyone in my circle to come or for meself to come here again.
I spent 4 dives here as this is the best shot I got.

Oh I came to stay here first time last year with myfriend the accom is okay cheap and clean like just hostel standard.

This year I came back by myself just for to do the dive and did not get much good experience back home.

Amazing Diving Experience(Strongly Recommended). I just had an amazing experience diving here to get my certification and I really love it! The entire team was caring and friendly, the environment was both welcoming and professional. My instructor, James, was not only hilarious and fun but also very patient, caring, responsible and detail-oriented. I learned a lot professional skills from him and he always ensured my safety whenever I needed it—truly trustworthy. He's an outstanding instructor and an amazing person who really sparked my passion for diving. I’ll definitely coming back to practice more and continue my journey here. Looking forward to do my Advanced certification later on!

Amazing Diving Experience(Strongly Recommended) I just had an amazing experience diving here to get my certification and I really love it! The entire team was caring and friendly, the environment was both welcoming and professional. My instructor, James, was not only hilarious and fun but also very patient, caring, responsible and detail-oriented. I learned a lot professional skills from him and he always ensured my safety whenever I needed it—truly trustworthy. He's an outstanding instructor and an amazing person who really sparked my passion for diving. I’ll definitely coming back to practice more and continue my journey here. Looking forward to do my Advanced certification later on!

Love these guys. The first day was cancelled due to poor weather forecast. The second day, I had zero expectation after days of rain and the previous day cancellation. It turned out to be one of the best dives I had in a while. We saw Mantas, Guitarfish, Wobbegones and leopard sharks in every single dives. Also eels, otopus, turtles, nudis and scorpions. My problem was to choose which one to take picture of first. The guides were amazing. They put one at the front and one at the back to ensure safety. Shout out to Alisa and Jaime. Alisa led the group beautifully to make sure we saw everything. Jamie always kept an eye on me when I looked for other creatures while everyone looking at the Mantas. Ian and James were nice and fun too, even I didn't get to dive with them, they still came over and chatted. Super hero James even dived back down to retrieve my dive watch.

I did two days of diving with Manta Lodge in February with my wife, our two sons (11 & 12), and friends—and what an unforgettable experience it was. We were absolutely spoiled with marine life: manta rays, leopard sharks, turtles, shovel nose rays, wobbegong sharks, and more.

At times there was so much happening around us that we didn’t know where to look next. It honestly felt like being inside an episode of Blue Planet.

A huge thank you to Tyler, Maddi, and Ian—the crew on our dives were exceptional. Professional, friendly, patient with the kids, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They made the whole experience safe, memorable, and a whole lot of fun.

We’ll definitely be back for more. Highly recommended.

FYI - Review is only for the divining - we did not stay at the accommodation.

Amazing dive centre with great rental equipment, dive boats and expert staff. We dived Manta Bommie twice over the weekend. We were a group 6 divers. 3 adults and 3 kids. The instructor, Tyler was great and really looked after our youngest diver at a shallower depth whilst we went to 15 meters on the Bommie for a few minutes to check out the sea life.

We saw everything there was to see. Manta Rays, Leopard Sharks, Turtles, Octopuses, Shovel Nosed Rays, Bull Rays and plenty of fish (most of which were within 10 meters)

It was one of the best dives I have ever done in Australia.

The whole team were professional from start to finish and we all enjoyed our day. Highly recommend to anyone looking to dive one of the best dive sites Australia.

5-Star Dive Experience with Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre
I had an absolutely fantastic time diving with the team at Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre on North Stradbroke Island! I dove with them twice, and they were incredibly professional, put safety first at every step, and still managed to make every moment fun and relaxed. The guides are knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely passionate about the underwater world — especially the famous site Manta Bommie.
What stood out most was the incredible crew: Dive guide Jessie (Training Divemaster) was amazing, as was (Training Divemaster ) Alice — both made the dives enjoyable and supportive. Skipper James kept everything light-hearted while being completely safe and professional throughout. Right from the first dive, it felt like diving with old friends who treat you like family. Equipment was well-maintained, briefings were clear, and they went out of their way to make sure I had the best possible experience.
Highly recommend this centre to anyone diving around North Stradbroke Island (Point Lookout area) — whether you're a beginner or experienced diver, you'll be in great hands! Already looking forward to coming back for more.

Five star dive experience 5-Star Dive Experience with Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre
I had an absolutely fantastic time diving with the team at Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre on North Stradbroke Island! I dove with them twice, and they were incredibly professional, put safety first at every step, and still managed to make every moment fun and relaxed. The guides are knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely passionate about the underwater world — especially the famous site Manta Bommie.
What stood out most was the incredible crew: Dive guide Jessie (Training Divemaster) was amazing, as was (Training Divemaster ) Alice — both made the dives enjoyable and supportive. Skipper James kept everything light-hearted while being completely safe and professional throughout. Right from the first dive, it felt like diving with old friends who treat you like family. Equipment was well-maintained, briefings were clear, and they went out of their way to make sure I had the best possible experience.
Highly recommend this centre to anyone diving around North Stradbroke Island (Point Lookout area) — whether you're a beginner or experienced diver, you'll be in great hands! Already looking forward to coming back for more.

We had an amazing experience completing our open water course with Manta Lodge. As beginners, we had some nerves, but we felt well cared for and thoroughly informed throughout the entire process. Matt was a fantastic instructor, and the dive sites were stunning. Thankyou to everyone at Manta Lodge for making the experience feel safe, supportive, and truly unforgettable. 🫶🏼

Disgusting facilities and unaccountable staff TLDR: the old YHA traveller and diver vibe is gone. If you enjoy zero communication, binge drinking, chain smoking with French backpackers, and gross facilities, this place is for you, though.

Let me start by saying I had stayed at this property when it still was a YHA, back in December 2024. The hostel was a bit run-down, but it had a beach shack vibe, and it was clean. All the guests were really lovely and respectful.

December 2025 was a completely different story. We arrived at Manta Lodge on the 25th, at the same time as two other travellers who also had a reservation starting the same day, only to find a sign indicating reception was closed for Christmas. The number left for “late check-ins” was disconnected. After waiting in the heat for a while, someone walked past and asked what we were doing there, and whether we’d called the number on the sign. When we said yes, but that the phone was turned off, the person sighed and checked us in.

Inside the hostel, we found the women’s bathrooms on the first floor were utterly unsanitary. I’m talking dirty underwear, toilet paper on the floor and in the sinks, as well as wet wipes around the showers. We decided to make do, since it was the 25th, and thought the staff would take care of this when rostered back the day after. We couldn’t change our reservation anyway: we had booked directly with Manta Lodge, and amendments require you to contact the accommodation directly (so beware to call within opening hours if you still decide to book with them after reading this review).

On the 26th, we saw some backpackers clean around, but the women’s bathroom on our floor stayed the same. I went to take a look at the bathroom on the second floor. That specific bathroom was pristine, as it had been during my first stay in 2024. I suspect that’s because the lodge’s staff are staying on that floor. After an email, management took over the matter on the morning of the 27th and had the staff clean up the first-floor bathroom.

We thought that would be it, but why would our stay go smoothly for even just one out of three nights after having paid $740 in total?

Some backpackers decided to ignore the “quiet hours” signs and started shouting in the hallway, completely smashed. They weren’t outside, or even in the chill-out/common areas, but well and truly in the hallway of the first floor and/or in their room, with very thin walls. When I came out to tell them to quiet down, two men were wrestling just outside our room (which, in their state of inebriety, was unsafe). This was around 11pm; the staff can check the cameras. The following morning, a fellow guest thanked me for intervening — although, again, I believe this should have been the hostel staff’s job.

To add insult to injury, I was blessed to make my morning coffee in a, yet again, disgusting kitchen, including a prawn salad from the night before, as well as a dips platter that had been left out for at least 24 hours. The dishes were uncovered, and as I took a photo, someone (unsure whether it was another bothered guest or a very oblivious employee) informed me the dips belonged to Manta Lodge staff. By that point, I was bewildered and didn’t even bother talking to management again.

Again, all I’ll say is: don’t come here if you’re after a clean bathroom or a good night’s rest before a dive or nature expedition.

TLDR: the old YHA traveller and diver vibe is gone. If you enjoy zero communication, binge drinking, chain smoking with French backpackers, and gross facilities, this place is for you, though.

Let me start by saying I had stayed at this property when it still was a YHA, back in December 2024. The hostel was a bit run-down, but it had a beach shack vibe, and it was clean. All the guests were really lovely and respectful.

December 2025 was a completely different story. We arrived at Manta Lodge on the 25th, at the same time as two other travellers who also had a reservation starting the same day, only to find a sign indicating reception was closed for Christmas. The number left for “late check-ins” was disconnected. After waiting in the heat for a while, someone walked past and asked what we were doing there, and whether we’d called the number on the sign. When we said yes, but that the phone was turned off, the person sighed and checked us in.

Inside the hostel, we found the women’s bathrooms on the first floor were utterly unsanitary. I’m talking dirty underwear, toilet paper on the floor and in the sinks, as well as wet wipes around the showers. We decided to make do, since it was the 25th, and thought the staff would take care of this when rostered back the day after. We couldn’t change our reservation anyway: we had booked directly with Manta Lodge, and amendments require you to contact the accommodation directly (so beware to call within opening hours if you still decide to book with them after reading this review).

On the 26th, we saw some backpackers clean around, but the women’s bathroom on our floor stayed the same. I went to take a look at the bathroom on the second floor. That specific bathroom was pristine, as it had been during my first stay in 2024. I suspect that’s because the lodge’s staff are staying on that floor. After an email, management took over the matter on the morning of the 27th and had the staff clean up the first-floor bathroom.

We thought that would be it, but why would our stay go smoothly for even just one out of three nights after having paid $740 in total?

Some backpackers decided to ignore the “quiet hours” signs and started shouting in the hallway, completely smashed. They weren’t outside, or even in the chill-out/common areas, but well and truly in the hallway of the first floor and/or in their room, with very thin walls. When I came out to tell them to quiet down, two men were wrestling just outside our room (which, in their state of inebriety, was unsafe). This was around 11pm; the staff can check the cameras. The following morning, a fellow guest thanked me for intervening — although, again, I believe this should have been the hostel staff’s job.

To add insult to injury, I was blessed to make my morning coffee in a, yet again, disgusting kitchen, including a prawn salad from the night before, as well as a dips platter that had been left out for at least 24 hours. The dishes were uncovered, and as I took a photo, someone (unsure whether it was another bothered guest or a very oblivious employee) informed me the dips belonged to Manta Lodge staff. By that point, I was bewildered and didn’t even bother talking to management again.

Again, all I’ll say is: don’t come here if you’re after a clean bathroom or a good night’s rest before a dive or nature expedition. That’s not the vibe of the place anymore.

Unfortunately, I can't give this place more than 2 stars. I have been diving for a while now, all over South East Asia and Australia, and this Scuba Centre had the most disappointing service and organisation of them all so far. I really felt like I overpaid here, and I cannot see how to justify their prices, except for the fact that they have the monopoly on this island.

I took the double dive in the morning, and no breakfast was offered to any of us. This in itself is already crazy at a base price of 215 AUD, rental gear not included. Not even tea or coffee, or a few biscuits. Nada. That's just common courtesy when you ask people to arrive at 6.45 am. I had to buy 2 Mars bars at the reception for an additional 6 AUD so I wouldn't have to dive on an empty stomach. Not good.

Then, their dive sites are within a 20 minute boat ride, and are very easily accessible, so that's not what's driving the prices up. While the whole staff was very lovely, they were not very professional or well organized at all once on the water; conditions under water were chaotic and made the diving unenjoyable. Several of the less experienced divers had problems (e.g. buoyancy, lost equipment) and instead of leaving one instructor with them and continuing the dive with the rest of the group, we all had to wait until those problems were sorted. If someone loses a fin upon entry, you DON'T make the whole group wait 10 minutes at the anchor site while you try and find that fin, which is well on its way to New Zealand by now, you send one of the instructors up to get a spare fin and continue the dive after a minute or so. You should also group people according to how experienced they are. Don't throw AOWD in with people who are on their 5th ever dive and keep floating up.
Visibility was also pretty bad at only around 5 to 6 meters.

At the first dive site, I did see some beauitful leopard sharks, a shovel nose ray, an eagle ray, and a Manta, so the dive sites themselves are nice, but everything else just wasn't great. The second site was kind of unspectacular though, really nothing special, and the route we took was also irritating as our guides just kind of hung out at a sandy shallow point for the last 15 minutes of the dive, which was supposed to be a safety stop thing, but it just wasn't interesting enough to spend a whole 15 minutes just there.

To make matters worse, not a word about environmentally conscious behavior under water was lost during the briefing, and even when some of the divers were repeatedly grabbing hold of corals, ramming their fins into the sea floor and uncoordinatedly floated around nobody said a WORD. Really shameful. There was also a situation where the group got way too close to a resting hawk bill turtle, started it, and made it difficult for the animal to surface or escape the situation. This was handled poorly by the guides and was not addressed once back on the boat at all. Really REALLY disappointing.

Furthermore, their max. divetime is 50 minutes instead of the customary 60, which is also really annoying as that forced me and some of the others to surface at 100+ bar when we could easily have gone much longer and probably seen some nice stuff in that time. oh well.

The final nail in the coffin was the "food" during the surface interval. I do not expect anything big, but especially after not offering any breakfast, it should definitely be more than a box of gummy bears and another box of dry biscuits, as well as two different instant soups in thermos flasks. Alltogether that couln't have cost more than 40 AUD. Come on now. This place is really scraping pennies when it comes to the customer service.

I wouldn't come back here, and am quite disappointed by the experience. Maybe it was just bad luck, as I head from some of the returning customers in the group that diving with the more experienced instructors had been great before, compared to this time. Don't expect too much from this place, even though you pay a premium price.

Amazing dives and team! 🦈🩵
We had an incredible experience diving with this club. The whole team was super friendly, professional, and passionate about what they do. Everything was perfectly organized, from the briefing to the dive itself, and we always felt safe and well taken care of. The dives were absolutely stunning — full of life and amazing encounters underwater. The equipment was in excellent condition, and the atmosphere on the boat was relaxed and fun. Thank you so much to the whole crew for making these dives unforgettable! We would come back without hesitation and highly recommend this dive center to anyone visiting the area.

Epic diving, friendly staff, great facilities The team at Manta go above and beyond to make you feel safe and comfortable while visiting Minjerribah's insane dive sites. Mantas, sharks, turtles and so much more, if you haven't dived here you're missing out. I did both my open water and advanced certification with this team and I can't speak anymore highly of them. Great value and staff that take safety seriously while still being warm and helping you make the most out of your dives. There's even hot showers and warm towels provided for divers. In terms of accommodation, the lodge has everything you need. It's right by the beach and is also across the road from a public bus stop if you want to explore other parts of the island. Thanks for safely opening up the underwater world for me. Looking forward to many more dives to come :)

Amazing Crew, Great Vibes, and Incredible Marine Life! We had a fantastic experience diving with Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre. We did 2 dives, and both were absolutely amazing. The crew was extremely professional, enthusiastic, and created a really positive atmosphere throughout the day. A special thank-you to Ryan for making the experience even better!

The dive site was incredible — we saw leopard sharks, guitar sharks, mantas, huge stingrays, and so much more. Truly unforgettable! We only wish we could have stayed longer. We’ll definitely return for more dives!

Have had an awesome stay at Manta Lodge. Staff have been so friendly, the bed was super comfy and room had everything we needed. We used the communal kitchen a few times and it is well equipped and clean. We have loved our time here! Also 1 min walk to the beach!!

Double dive as a day trip from Brisbane During a city break in Brisbane, I didn't want to skip diving either. The Manta Lodge offered me the option after a long search. The ferry takes you from Cleveland to North Stradbroke Island, from where you take a van to the dive center. The welcome was not very friendly, but the check-in was very fast (online check-in previously completed). The dive center has modern and well-maintained material, a big praise for it! The crew is very helpful and also had the necessary humor. The briefing was very detailed. Getting into the sea, through pushback with a tractor is probably unique worldwide. According to the crew, we were on site for a day with an average current. As an experienced diver, I would have liked to have my reef hook and gloves with me here (but only travelled with the ABC). For diving we assume an SMB (buoy). The buoys are sold in the dive shop (AUD 10.--) but not rented. As soon as I bought one and grabbed my diving jacket, I realized that there is already a buoy in the jackets. This was a little unnecessary. I did not approach the dives with any particular expectations. We were rewarded with manta, guitar rays, large stingrays, leopard sharks, wobbegongs and large turtles. There were also a few flute fish, buffer fish and occasionally other small schools of colorful fish. The rock formations are overgrown with soft corals. In my view, the diving experience for the (less experienced) divers could be further improved if a retaining rope were attached to the high-current Manta observation points. At the same time, underwater vegetation would be less affected. The price/performance ratio is absolutely right here and I would have gone diving again with the center for a longer stay.

Lovely hostel! Good value. Friendly receptionist that help give ideas of what to do on the island. Washing machines there. Communal space. Private rooms or dorms. Comfy beds. Fridge included in the private rooms. Mirror. Desk. Lovely stay.

Scuba training at Manta Did Open Water course. Staff were very friendly and supportive . Instruction was very clear. Great facilities and dive sites.

I booked 2 nights with the intent to explore the island (they hire bikes and surfboards) and ended up going for 2 of the most amazing dives I've ever had ! Lovely crew, and lots of whales, sharks, rays and turtles ! 100 % would recommend and go back !

I booked 2 nights with the intent to explore the island (they hire bikes and surfboards) and ended up going for 2 of the most amazing dives I've ever had ! Lovely crew, and lots of whales, sharks, rays and turtles ! 100 % would recommend and go back !

Would have to be one of the most personal and attentive dive crews you will come across.
Nome of the “cattle truck” type operations where there are too many people and not enough room.
Excellent dive gear for hire, with genuinely invested dive guides and skippers.
Close dive sites with protection from most weather conditions.
Hump Backs in attendance whilst in the water, where you can listen to them on your way down !!!
Spectacular Shark Alley which is an absolute must if you want to see big sharks, and in good numbers, where you can just hover on the edge of the alley and have interaction with some beautiful mommas.
One of the best offerings in South East Queensland.
Absolutely top notch 🐋🐳🦈🐟

You can tell the genuine passion for diving that the staff have! I did 2 fun dives with Manta Lodge and had a great time despite difficult weather conditions. Flat Rock and Roaring Deep were both amazing winter dive sites with sharks, humpback whales, turtles and a variety of fish. James your enthusiasm and zest for life/diving is infectious and so much fun. You instantly made me feel comfortable and I can’t wait to dive with you all again! The gear hire and van pick up made the process so easy too. Big 5 stars from me ☺️

It was during their winter and it was not during a holiday They are not a YHA hostel anymore but that hasn’t changed the staff’s friendliness and attention to detail. It was very clean! And quiet but I imagine it gets louder during school holidays.
The dive crew was to notch! They were very attentive to our needs. I’m so glad we dove with them, even if it was chilly and choppy seas. A humpback whale surfaced very near to our boat!

Beyond positive experience! I recently completed my open water at Manta and had such a great experience! My trainer Nick was amazing, very knowledgeable, encouraging and fun! All of the staff here are really helpful and friendly. The Dives were fantastic and I couldn't recommend them more!

Thank you Manta team!

Scuba Diving training Went to Manta to obtain my Open Water Scuba License. It was a great experience, led by Nick, who was a very focused trainer and very experienced. My fellow students were fantastic too, with plenty of of light banter, but asleep great concentration.

I would like to give James and his team a thumb up for the way they are running this excellent diving structure. As one of their regular divers they know already how high my appreciation of their work is. The latest review I just read was quite upsetting for me because I was part of the same group of divers, and I have a really different perspective of the event. I am not used to brag about my diving experience, but I think it could be useful here to say that I am a “senior” diving instructor with 5000+ dives who had run a diving structure for 5 years in French Polynesia, 25 years ago. I did few dives in the past few months with our dive guide, she is a brilliant, competent and passionate divemaster. This last Saturday morning she did her best to find a path through some very poor visibility conditions but always in an extremely safe way. It is false to say the contrary. The previous comment is wrong on so many levels. There are many factors we cannot control as a dive operator, and nothing could have been better managed for that dive; the crew was excellent as usual. From our group of 6 divers, we were with my lovely buddy, the only 2 helping the crew to unload the boat, the complaining divers were nowhere to be seen which was frustrating. Teamwork should be at the forefront of any diver spirit. Once again, well done team Manta Scuba centre, you are at the top of your game. I am happy to be part of this community.
Thierry

The Manta team is just great, particularly when it comes to their organised boat dives. High safety standards, very qualified guides, good processes including dive and site briefings, and access to one of the best dives sites in Australia. Much love for the team! Can recommend.

I have been out with Manta Lodge twice and have thoroughly enjoyed both trips. I found the service to be good, professional and the guides were knowledgeable and helpful for diving day trips. Thank you for the fun dives!

I cannot rate the rooms as I only went out on day trips with Manta Lodge.

Great open water diver course! Did the open water diver course with my two sons. We all had an excellent weekend learning to dive! Our instructor Em was fantastic, very knowledgeable, patient and thorough in the training. The skills in the pool were paced well and we all felt confident for the ocean dives. The ocean dives were amazing, the crew fantastic, well organised, completely professional, they found us perfect sites for skills practice. The final dive was our first sightseeing dive and we saw amazing wildlife including turtles, leopard sharks and a huge gathering of guitar sharks. I finished the course feeling confident in my abilities. Lastly, the crew at Manta did everything in their power to make our course excellent, responding quickly to solve any minor issues with gear and personnel and I can't recommend them more highly. And straddie is a beautiful place to learn to dive!!

I haven't stayed in a hostel in a long time but I was pleasantly surprised with our one night stay.
The private double room was comfortable, clean and a nice temperature with a fridge and kettle.
The walls are quite thin so maybe bring some headphones in case you have noisy neighbours!
The staff were friendly and it is about 100m away from the beach. Close to a nice little spot to watch the sunset.

We dived 2 days with Manta, and they were brilliant - much better than I'd expected. They're an exceptionally friendly and fun bunch, and very professional and skilled. I was particularly impressed by the skippers' knowledge of the best places to dive given each day's conditions. As well, they were really helpful, accommodating and patient with my friend, who hadn't dived much and was far from confident.
The diving itself was better than I'd thought it would be - really good fish life, and of course mantas, turtles, sharks and rays. The visibility was the only thing that wasn't really good, but it was typical for the time of year.
I'd recommend Manta to anyone!

Great Dive Course and Instructor My experience doing a dive course through Manta Scuba Centre with my daughter was fantastic. Our instructor Taylah was a great teacher and really helped build my 12 y.o daughter’s confidence underwater. We had a lot of fun. I highly recommend.

I can only talk about the diving center since I haven’t stayed in the accommodation. The staff was super nice and highly professional. Every diver, regardless of their level, was well taken care of. Safety briefing 10/10, equipment very well maintained, dive guides top-notch and professional. The dive exceeded my expectations by far. We saw many leopard sharks, guitar sharks, eagle rays, stingrays, sea turtles, and mantas. This was in December since wildlife changes during the year. Thank you for the wonderful dives!

Advanced Diver Course Amazing diving. I did the advanced course and My instructor Taylor was brilliant and very patient. I will be returning. Despite challenging conditions the crew did brilliant to get the boat out and us in the water at a safe dive site. So many manta and other types of rays.

Diving at Straddie with the Manta Crew Great dive experience with the Manta Lodge team.
M/C - James with the early morning stretches
Captain Tyler
Our fearless guides Miffie , Julia and Joel.

Well maybe -1 for Joel who kicked the biscuits over !

Hit all the high points. Safety clearly first throughout the day right from ensuring people could setup their own gear before loading the boat , good high quality rental gear , left on time and everyone on the boat came back in good spirits.

Super team on a day when the weather could have been not our friend still ended up with some 5 star diving. Tons to see, great dive site for this part of the world well worth a visit if you are in the region looking for diving without wanting to go way further north.

Dive sites - Turtle Cave and Shark Alley. Both lived up to their names , turtles and sharks a plenty. Grey Nurse and Leopard , don’t worry they don’t bite. 16-18m dive range , deeper if you are advanced certified available but plenty to see at the Open Water level.

10/10 will dive again, in fact am going again tomorrow !

I’ll get to let down… but let me start by saying how fantastic the staff are - so friendly, patient and knowledgeable! Skipper was top tier and patchy was such a wonderful dive instructor.

Due to the uncontrollables, we had horrific windy, choppy weather. Now I understand that you can’t control the weather or what creatures that appear bellow the surface - but I feel like we got a subpar experience due to the go ahead even in these conditions. We paid over $500 to see a turtle - again I understand you can’t control aspects of the dive - but as a company, either cancel the dive when you get weather reports in, offer a discount or offer a voucher for a free dive in the future.
I’m a firm believer in giving value to customers, that’s just my opinion, and this was super disappointing.

Advertising this as a top ten dive spot in Australia is also a joke. Do more market research because there are SO many spots out there that triumph this one ten fold.

But staff… excellent! They held their cool even in a hurricane 🤜🏼🤛🏼 super impressive

Great dive operation, awesome place! The staff at the dive shop were awesome! As experienced divers we have visited many locations both in Australia and overseas and we were very impressed by the professionalism shown by all the dive crew at Manta Lodge. They were very attentive to our needs and their selection of dive site’s appropriate for the day’s conditions. Their dive boat was great on the water and the organising both before and after the dives was very efficient. We will be back!

Great marine life not far from Brisbane Great diving sites with plenty of marine life such as Mantas, Leopard Sharks and Guitar Sharks. The dive guides are very friendly as well. Accommodation onsite and the beach is only metres away. If you want to learn scuba diving here is an excellent place to start. I definitely recommend it.

A huge thanks to the dive team and hostel staff for everything they did for us over the Easter weekend. The dives were fantastic and all the staff very helpful and fun to be around. It's a very smooth operation.

Having the accommodation above the dive shop was very handy. The rooms are basic but very clean and just what you need.

Awesome Experience My son and I just returned from a fabulous trip to North Stradbroke Island. We stayed at the Manta Lodge (YHA North Straddie) and we had the best time.
James and his family, who own and run the lodge took us in as if we were their own, shared a meal with us, taught my son how to cast a line in the surf, gave us hints and tips about the best places to snorkel on the island, for kids and were just generally awesome people (as were their amazing staff, who were always friendly and ready with a greeting and a smile).
The accommodations were clean, tidy, well kept, comfortable and budget friendly. The water pressure in the showers is second to none. I was sad to get into mine at home. The shared kitchen facilities were generous and top quality.
It was the first time my son has stayed in a hostel, (he is 8 ) and he loved the community feel, showing off his cooking talents in the communal kitchen, playing table tennis and pool with the other children at the lodge.
The lodge is on the beach at Adder Rock and that is a blessing with a kid who doesn't stop. We could go for a morning and evening walk and a morning and afternoon swim, basically at our door step.
We highly recommend choosing Manta Lodge for your stay on North Straddie and your snorkeling and SCUBA adventures.
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Manta a great family scuba experience. These guys are the best! Family did a scuba course here. They were friendly, thoughtful and safety was their number one goal.

Kept my 12 year old engaged and we all had a fantastic time.

Sea-life was excellent and equipment A1. Highly recommended experience.

Very good dive center and dive guides! I had one of my best dives ever there in Nov 22. The guides are very competent and friendly. The dives were perfectly managed and the highlight were the manta rays that we saw during our dives.

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.

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!

Awesome Wonderful, well run, friendly and knowledgeable staff/dive instructors and skippers. Clean rooms with air con, pool table and table tennis and books. Went above and beyond to ensure we all had a great diving experience. Highly recommend.

Great Diving School, Great Vibes! I didnt stay at the Manta Lodge Hostel, but I took the Open Water Diver course with these guys, so I can't say much about the hostel beyond that everything looked quite clean and comfy. The diving course was great. I came in never having dived before, and you could tell from everyone there that these guys love their sport/job and want to share it with others. We didn't have the best conditions with rain causing serious issues for visibility, but our instructor Taylah still managed to get us out there, taught us all the necessary skills, get our diving certs done, and made me feel perfectly safe throughout. And we also managed to see a handful of nice ocean critters along the way regardless :) All around great vibes, and I'm sure if the weather had been a little better, the experience would have been even more memorable. As it stands, I'll definitely keep Manta Lodge in mind, in case I ever come back to the east coast of Australia, to get a proper chance at seeing some mantas in the wild with these guys! If you do go, don't be like me, but allow for some buffer days, in case the weather isn't optimal. The folks here clearly want to offer divers the best experience they can and seem quite flexible in rescheduling dives if the weather isn't playing along!

Merry Christmas from Manta Dive — cancelled!

Trip was cancelled before we were set to arrive due to boat problems. I understand that things happen, however given the fact that stradbroke is expensive both to stay and reach, the lack of timeliness and options in the wake of an unforeseen issue is entirely unacceptable. Surely there is more optionality available than just a nondescript apology. Refund was prompt, however sometimes it’s less about the money and more about customer service and salvaging an already bad situation.

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!

manta lodge and scuba centre hostel We were apprehensive about booking into a hostel but the room was spacious, clean and well equipped. We didn't love the bed; a double with one over bunk but it wasn't a deal breaker. The staff were helpful and friendly, the position was great and the 'social room' was at the other end of the hostel so we had a quiet night. We would recommend it.

Great way to scuba We did an Advanced Open Water course with Manta and stayed at the lodge for two nights. we were picked up and dropped off from the ferry at Dunwich. DIVING AT Manta SSI The course was really great. Our dynamic duo of dive masters worked with ten keen students helping us nail the advanced skills and reinforcing the basics. In many ways, this is some of the best risk training I've been a part of. Go Manta Warriors! The boat crew were friendly, knowlegeable and professional which is what you want when you're crashing through waves to some of the dive sites. STAYING AT THE LODGE Manta Lodge is a YHA, it is basic but the location is excellent as it is next to the beach. Accomodation is upstairs. Our twin share room had a bunk bed, kettle, desk and a small fridge. Downstairs there are good shared facilities to cook your own food and fridges and freezers to store stuff. My only quibble is that the aircon in our rooms was marginal which is problematic in the hot Queensland Summer. However, when I spoke to reception, they were onto it immediately. If you want to eat out, there is a good Mexican restaurant 5 mins walk up the road, a bowls club and a roadhouse with reasonable burgers next door. The pub is 20 mins walk up the road. There is apparently a shuttle, but when we tried to order it, nobody answered. I'm going to do more diving with Manta.

Staff were friendly, located right near the bus stop so great if you don't have a car. Room and facilities were clean. Location was ideal being so close to cylinder beach, awesome for an early morning swim ☀️

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!

Excellent Professional Dive Operation run by a top notch crew. I have no clue about the lodge itself BUT the team taking care of the diving are top rate. This is a very well run operation. The processes and procedures are spot on, the skippers and DMs enthusiastic and engaging. The beach entry on those RIBs is tricky, as is the exit, but it was very well handled. Our DM was Santiago and he was top notch. kept an eye on us, guided well but was not overbearing (we were an experienced group). So well done to James and the whole team. We'll be back.

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

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.

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.

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!