| |
Nusa
Penida
Nusa Penida is a largest island of 3 islands (the others being Nusa
Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan), located in the southeast of Bali, has
dive sites for the novice to the more experienced diver. Water temperature
in Nusa Penida is quite cold but often startlingly clear, with gorgeous
corals and prolific fish, with some turtle, shark (including grey
reefs and silver-tips and Mola-Mola.
Nusa Penida is arrounded by coral reef that runs the length of Nusa
Penida's north coast. The reef has a lot of soft corals, and also
many kinds of fish, such as Moorish Idols, Sweetlips, Lionfish, Moray
Eel, Scorpionfish, white tip reef shark), Napoleonfish and Sunfishes.
Nusa Penida’s sunfish can get over 100 years old. If you are
very lucky you might even see the Molas while eating jellyfish. They
hover nearly motionless in the water and suck one jellyfish after
the other into their small mouth.
Wonderful barrel sponges and gorgonians can be seen in the deeper
waters, and sea snakes can be seen on almost every dive. With the
reef extending up to within five metres of the surface your safety
stop will allow time to spot moray eels, titan triggerfish and the
brilliantly coloured emporer angelfish. Be careful not to touch the
reef as the local scorpionfish are notoriously difficult to spot.
Toyapakeh
Toyapakeh is located in nort-west Nusa Penida. This is most popular
dive site. Actually the site breaks into two with Toyapakeh wall and
Toyapakeh. Both these sites are encrusted with corals and fish. The
intensity of the fish life is something to be witnessed. Large pelagics
are often seen here just lurking in the blue.
Toyapakeh is lovely reef of beautiful soft corals and thriving hard
corals, gives us clouds of reef-fish including anthias, Scorpionfish,
Moray Eel, trumpetfish, puffers, Giant Trevally. This popularity is
deserved and not only because it is partially protected from the current
flowing through the strait between Penida and Ceningan, but also due
to the good visibility and rich coral. In addition to the coral reef,
there are some very attractive coral formations, with big gorgonians,
that provide excellent places to find fish and other marine life.
The current here often heads north-east, which makes for an easy and
pleasant drift-dive however the current in shallow water and the current
in deeper water are sometimes going in different directions, therefore
the direction of your dive can change as you alter your depth. The
water can be pretty cold which means thermoclines.
Gamat Bay
Gamat Bay just closed from Toyapakeh dive point, between Toyapakeh
and Crystal Bay, Gamat Bay is one of the few dive sites at Nusa
Penida where you don't have to just 'go with the flow', the bay
is protected from the currents although once you head down the steep
slope at the mouth, you are again drift-diving.
Gamat Bay is a profusion of colourful soft corals, with gorgonians
and hard corals everywhere. These shallow areas are lovely, full
of reef-fish - some quite rare, commensals, nudibranches, and could
take your whole dive, particularly if you are a photographer. The
larger fishlife here is fairly diverse with some large specimens
of surgeonfish, grouper and unicornfish. Overhangs and a couple
of small caves provide resting places for white tips and turtles.
Crystal Bay
Crystal Bay have the most fantastic visibility under water. This
site consists of a fantastic little bay in shallow water that offers
excellent opportunities for photos. Crystal bay have many kind of
coral reef. This hard coral reef has a white sand base, and is covered
with anemones and soft corals. It can be quite surgey in the bay.
The marinelife includes Angelfish, Sweetlips, many Moorish Idols.
The Hard Coral also provide homes for a lot of lobster.
Following the north side of the bay around, we come to a Bat Cave:
enter from underwater, surface inside the cave (which is open to
the sky) where bats sleep overhead - big waves may crash in through
the top. Sometimes 2 small reef shark are in the cave, but they
leave when you arrive or if you lucky you can find leopard shark.
Manta Point
Manta point is most popular dive site in Nusa Penida besides Crystal
Bay, Gamat bay and Toyapakeh. Manta sightings here are very common
with some very large animals being seen. This site is very open
to the elements so sometimes it is not possible to dive this site.
Manta point have amazingly limestone cliffs that descend straight
into the ocean. The swell can be stupendous, sometimes making entry
impossible by mid-morning. There's a sandy bottom at 12-18m. The
water is quite cold because it comes in from the ocean (22-26 degrees).
You may also see other pelagics such as tuna and tiger mackerel.
Malibu Point
located on south-east Nusa Penida, Malibu point has reef lies on
a very steep slope, the topography of which is great with table
corals and big bommies going to 22M.
Malibu Point is the best place to see shark, which may be true.
However, the site is a long way from the mainland and is not always
dive able due to the currents. At the northern end of the site,
the currents can be very swirly, but it is a good place to see Manta
and Mola-Mola.
SD
SD is beautiful scenery at this site can only be experienced first
hand. From SD point you can find large coral heads and a huge variety
of marine life. The normally gentle currents here wind you past
Turtles, Manta Rays, Sea Snakes, Octopus, White Tip Reef Sharks
and some of the most diverse collections of corals and sponges in
Bali.
During the Sunfish (Mola Mola) season it is also possible to get
some good sightings here as the Sunfish drift along the reefs. Temperatures
are usually 26 to 29C but may drop to around 20C, so please be prepared.
This place is suitable for divers who seek a higher adventure. This
Bali Dive Site is stretch along the north coast of Penida Island.
The soft and hard corals are among the best in Bali.
|
|
|
|
