Bali is the place to see some of the ocean's most majestic creatures
ALEX GATENBY
If you’ve ever been to South East Asia and wanted to see the hidden wonders of your holiday destination, then scuba diving is for you. We all know that the Indonesian Island of Bali offers beautiful beaches, scenery and weather as well as a fabulous cultural experience but many who visit are unaware of its secret underwater world.
As a nation mesmerised by the sea creatures witnessed in the new series of Blue Planet II, more and more people are looking into diving holidays. Indonesia has some of the Southern Hemisphere’s most sought-after diving and it’s clear to see why.
Home to a vast array of tropical fish, miles upon miles of vibrant coral reefs and stunning topography, diving around Bali is an incredibly well-rounded experience.
Where should you go?
It is possible to dive all over the archipelago but a few places stand out for offering a truly unique experience for divers of all standards.
Divers waiting at the surface ready to descend
Komodo National Park:
The Komodo Islands are situated in the chain of Indonesian islands to the east of Bali. The majority of the Komodo islands are uninhabited and can only be accessed via a flight to its neighbouring island Flores and then a boat trip to reach the national park.
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The islands offer magnificent diving with an enormous number of extravagant coral reefs and regular sightings of sharks, including white-tip, black tip, bamboo and grey reef sharks. Graceful giant mantas are found at several dive sites, the strong currents and plankton-rich waters of the area providing their perfect habitat. Growing to up to eight metres across, these gentle creatures are under threat across the world due to the value of their tails and other organs in Chinese medicine. The Komodo National Park status here, at least, offers protection for all its sea life.
Komodo National Park:
The Komodo Islands are situated in the chain of Indonesian islands to the east of Bali. The majority of the Komodo islands are uninhabited and can only be accessed via a flight to its neighbouring island Flores and then a boat trip to reach the national park.
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The islands offer magnificent diving with an enormous number of extravagant coral reefs and regular sightings of sharks, including white-tip, black tip, bamboo and grey reef sharks. Graceful giant mantas are found at several dive sites, the strong currents and plankton-rich waters of the area providing their perfect habitat. Growing to up to eight metres across, these gentle creatures are under threat across the world due to the value of their tails and other organs in Chinese medicine. The Komodo National Park status here, at least, offers protection for all its sea life.
The 102-year-old German Adelaar dive boat in the Komodo Islands
The optimum way to visit the Komodo islands is on a live-aboard boat.
The German owned Adelaar, a 102 year old Dutch-built schooner has been beautifully refitted to include 4 luxury cabins, sleeping 8 guests, comfortable communal areas and first class dive facilities (including Nitrox) and two tenders. The Dive Masters’ knowledge of the sites, currents and conditions ensure guests dive (and snorkel) safely missing none of the extraordinary fish and plant life that thrive here.
The optimum way to visit the Komodo islands is on a live-aboard boat.
The German owned Adelaar, a 102 year old Dutch-built schooner has been beautifully refitted to include 4 luxury cabins, sleeping 8 guests, comfortable communal areas and first class dive facilities (including Nitrox) and two tenders. The Dive Masters’ knowledge of the sites, currents and conditions ensure guests dive (and snorkel) safely missing none of the extraordinary fish and plant life that thrive here.
The deck of The Adelaar boasts a relaxing live space
The boat sails from Bali to Komodo and back over a 10 day cruise which includes up to 30 dives, several shore walks be it to a waterfall, a fabulous view point or even a lake that has only existed in an old volcanic crater since it was flooded by the 2004 Tsunami.
The above water highlight has to be the walk amongst famous Komodo dragons. The dragons live wild on the islands of Komodo and Rinca and appear reasonably docile until they are hungry; when hunting they can reach up to 50km/h.
The boat sails from Bali to Komodo and back over a 10 day cruise which includes up to 30 dives, several shore walks be it to a waterfall, a fabulous view point or even a lake that has only existed in an old volcanic crater since it was flooded by the 2004 Tsunami.
The above water highlight has to be the walk amongst famous Komodo dragons. The dragons live wild on the islands of Komodo and Rinca and appear reasonably docile until they are hungry; when hunting they can reach up to 50km/h.
A Komodo dragon from the islands
Tulamben:
The village of Tulamben is on the north east coast of Bali and a famous spot for wreck diving. The USAT Liberty is a world recognised dive site which divers travel far and wide to explore. A US warship, it was attacked by the Japanese in WW2 and abandoned on the beach by the US Navy until the nearby Mount Agung volcano erupted in 1963, pushing the ship from the beach into the water.
Diving the Liberty Wreck
The wreck split in half and remarkably now lies at a perfect dive depth range of 3 meters, to its deepest point at 30 metres (the maximum depth for most recreational divers.) Due to the shallowness of its prow it is possible to snorkel the wreck too. The wreck has now established its own reef life with corals, flamboyant fish and critters with regular visits by turtles, octopus, bump-head parrotfish and the odd shark.
A moray eel spotted amongst the coral in Tulamben
Tauch Terminal resort is perfectly situated in front of the Liberty wreck dive site, the accommodation is delightful, spacious and a haven of tranquillity between the scooters and traffic of the village and the various dive sites accessible from the shore. The dive school caters for all levels from first timers to experts. All PADI courses are taught and excellent equipment hire is available.
Tulamben:
The village of Tulamben is on the north east coast of Bali and a famous spot for wreck diving. The USAT Liberty is a world recognised dive site which divers travel far and wide to explore. A US warship, it was attacked by the Japanese in WW2 and abandoned on the beach by the US Navy until the nearby Mount Agung volcano erupted in 1963, pushing the ship from the beach into the water.
Diving the Liberty Wreck The wreck split in half and remarkably now lies at a perfect dive depth range of 3 meters, to its deepest point at 30 metres (the maximum depth for most recreational divers.) Due to the shallowness of its prow it is possible to snorkel the wreck too. The wreck has now established its own reef life with corals, flamboyant fish and critters with regular visits by turtles, octopus, bump-head parrotfish and the odd shark.
A moray eel spotted amongst the coral in Tulamben Tauch Terminal resort is perfectly situated in front of the Liberty wreck dive site, the accommodation is delightful, spacious and a haven of tranquillity between the scooters and traffic of the village and the various dive sites accessible from the shore. The dive school caters for all levels from first timers to experts. All PADI courses are taught and excellent equipment hire is available.
The Tauch Terminal resort in Tulamben
Nusa Lembongan:
The small Island of Nusa Lemongan and its larger and barely inhabited neighbour Nusa Penida rest between Bali and Lombok and provide outstanding diving and surfing.
Only accessible by boat (from Sanur or Padang Bai in Bali), it has only recently started to develop as a tourist location and its unspoilt atmosphere makes it a very special place to stay.
The view of the sunset from Nusa Lembongan ()
The varying currents and water temperatures (from 27c down to a chilly 18c) of its dive sites mean the chance to see tropical fish and pelagics rarely seen at other Balinese dive sites. Nusa Penida’s renowned ‘Manta-bay’ and ‘Manta-Point’ dive sites are home to families of various manta-breeds as well as an assortment of stingrays. Research has shown that it has become a popular breeding spot for these majestic creatures; it is one of the few places in the world to have regular sitings of adolescent mantas.
The star of the show, however, is the rarely-sighted Mola fish. These bizarre looking creatures date back millions of years, the largest bony fish on the planet, they are famous for their odd shaped bodies: flattened widthways, they have small wired mouths, two enormous fins and no tail, making them taller than they are long.
The rarely-sited Mola Mola at Manta Bay in Nusa Lembongan
Weighing up to 1000kg and measuring up to 10 feet high, Molas or Sunfish live deep within the ocean, sometimes kilometres below sea level in cold, dark water. The waters off Nusa Penida and Lembongan, are one of the few places on Earth where they come up to shallower depths between May and October to be cleaned by other small fish in the warmer waters.
The gentle giants are considered one of the most weirdly wonderful fish to come across when diving, if you are lucky enough to see one it is an
Nusa Lembongan:
The small Island of Nusa Lemongan and its larger and barely inhabited neighbour Nusa Penida rest between Bali and Lombok and provide outstanding diving and surfing.
Only accessible by boat (from Sanur or Padang Bai in Bali), it has only recently started to develop as a tourist location and its unspoilt atmosphere makes it a very special place to stay.
The view of the sunset from Nusa Lembongan ()The varying currents and water temperatures (from 27c down to a chilly 18c) of its dive sites mean the chance to see tropical fish and pelagics rarely seen at other Balinese dive sites. Nusa Penida’s renowned ‘Manta-bay’ and ‘Manta-Point’ dive sites are home to families of various manta-breeds as well as an assortment of stingrays. Research has shown that it has become a popular breeding spot for these majestic creatures; it is one of the few places in the world to have regular sitings of adolescent mantas.
The star of the show, however, is the rarely-sighted Mola fish. These bizarre looking creatures date back millions of years, the largest bony fish on the planet, they are famous for their odd shaped bodies: flattened widthways, they have small wired mouths, two enormous fins and no tail, making them taller than they are long.
The rarely-sited Mola Mola at Manta Bay in Nusa LembonganWeighing up to 1000kg and measuring up to 10 feet high, Molas or Sunfish live deep within the ocean, sometimes kilometres below sea level in cold, dark water. The waters off Nusa Penida and Lembongan, are one of the few places on Earth where they come up to shallower depths between May and October to be cleaned by other small fish in the warmer waters.
The gentle giants are considered one of the most weirdly wonderful fish to come across when diving, if you are lucky enough to see one it is an
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