:: Lombok Island Diving Information & Guides ::
Lombok Island Diving Information
The
island
of Lombok, located to the east of Bali, offers diving
for all experience levels. Most of the dving takes place
at the Gili islands to the northwest of Lombok however
there are a number of other locations around the island.
Marine life is also similar to that found in Bali,
conditions in the Lombok Strait can be hairy with those
strong currents from the Indonesian Throughflow. The
rewarding result is rich underwater biodiversity, during
certain times of the year large fish such as sharks,
eagle rays, turtles and manta rays also visit the reefs.
There is also the chance to see schooling hammerheads at
Blongas Bay.
Gili Air
This is the first
of the three Gili Islands off the northwest coast of
Lombok. It has the largest population and feels more
"lived on" than the other two islands. There is a small
turtle hatchery here where conservation efforts are in
place to protect the local Hawksbill and Green
population. There are plenty of good snorkelling spots
around the island and a number of good dive sites.
Japanese Wreck
The
remains of a 20 meter World War II Japanese patrol
vessel can be found in 45 meters of water to the south
of Gili Air. It is home to a large number of lionfish
and scorpionfish and often attracts schooling barracuda
and jacks. Due to the depths involved decompression or
enriched air diving is recommended on this site.
Hans Reef
To the northeast of Gili Air is this reef of bommies and
rocky outcrops. This is a great site for macro life and
juvenile fish, keep a lookout for frogfish, pipefish and
octopus.
Air Wall
This dive offers a drop off to around 32 meters,
some good coral formations can be found here with plenty
of overhangs and arches filled with glassfish. There are
concrete blocks that serve as a cleaning station at 22
meters and a sandy patch that can also be explored.
Gili Meno
The smallest and
quietest island in the chain is Gili Meno. There are
less accommodation options that neighbouring Gili Air
and those that are there tend to be more up market.
There is also a bird park on the island.
Takat
Malang and Simon's Reef
Malang reef between Gili Meno and Air offers a
plateau at around 12 meters that drops away to around
40. There are several big coral heads with some
impressive canyons, overhangs and swimthroughs. Plenty
of healthy coral, sponges and gorgonians to be found
here along with a vast array of marine fish. Simon's
reef, which is close by, also offers similar action with
eight big coral bommies in a rough figure of eight
formation.
Meno Wall
The soft coral carpeted wall drops to around 22
meters and is home to all manner of crusteaceans. Some
big groupers and turtles are often seen at this spot
which is also a popular night dive destination. Spanish
dancers and cuttlefish are the delights after dark.
Gili Trawangan
The largest
island in the Gili's this one is aimed at budget
travellers and is considered the party island. All of
the dive sites in the Gili islands can be reached from
any of the three islands but this one is the most
popular.
Deep Turbo
the sandy bottom at 30 meters has a number of huge sea
mounds that rise up to around 20 meters. There are
plenty of overhangs and cracks to explore that house
morays, crabs and fish. Coral growth is good here and
there are some resident garden eels in the sand.
Sunset Reef
A gently sloping reef with good hard coral growth
including big slabs of table coral and gardens of
staghorn. The reef ends at around 20 meters and attracts
the usual fish life.
Halik Reef
A steeper slope to the north of Gili Trawangan
dropping down to 25 meters. There are a series of
canyons in the deeper areas that are often home to local
turtles. Good coral and reef life at this site.
Shark Point
This is the most popular dive site on the island, it
is a vast open site with a series of ridges that fall
away into deeper water. Coral cover isnt as impressive
as other Gili spots but this is one of the better places
to see whitetip, blacktip and even the possibility of
grey sharks. There are also other big visitors such as
rays, turtles and bumphead parrotfish. Manta Point, a
little further south, can offer the opportunity to spot
seasonal visiting mantas.
Senggigi
There are a
couple of dive sites around Senggigi beach on the east
coast of Lombok. At Nipah slope there is a drop off down
to 50 meters or so with good coral coverage around the
25 meter point. The Malimbu dive sites have coral
outcrops and sandy patches along with a series of caves
that can be dived in the right conditions. Alang wall is
a coral encrusted slope down to 35 meters. Marine life
at Senggigi is good with all the usual reef visitors
including turtles and rays.
Blongas
Bay
The bay (meaning
bay of tranquility) is situated on the south coast of
Lombok and has a number of good and relatively
undiscovered dive sites. The waters here are calm, but
as soon as the narrow mouth around Gili Wayang is
crossed, the sea gets much rougher with a strong surge.
The interesting dive sites all lie here, mostly steep
rocks and boulders.
The Magnet
This popular site is a large pinnacle in the open ocean
rising from a depth of around 60 meters. It is well
known for its big fish action and often rewards divers
with schooling hammerheads. The surge is so strong here
that it can still be felt as deep as 20 meters! Huge
schools of barracuda, mackerel, tuna, mobular rays and
sharks can be observed here frequently.
Coral Garden
A calmer spot with a series of submerged pinnacles at 25
meters. Plenty of soft yellow, orange and purple corals,
whip corals and anemones are found here with smaller
fish in abundance.
Wollis Pinnacle
A large rock that stops around 5 meters from the
surface surrounded by a jumble of rocks on the sandy
bottom at 20 meters. It is a sheltered spot where
nudibranchs, frogfish and ribbon eels can be found.
Gili Sera
This island is not much more than a huge rock with
splintered, fallen parts of it in the ocean around it.
Plenty of coral, sponges and tunicates cover the rocks
with table and black corals in the more sheltered areas.
Marine life is good with rays and the occasional shark
to be seen.
The Cathedral
Another isolated pinnacle rising from the depths,
again surge is strong here and again encounters with big
pelagics are common. Good marine life including sea
snakes, eagle rays and sharks. There is a large cave at
40 meters which is suitable for experienced divers.
There are a number of other dive sites around the bay
including Boulder City which has good swimthroughs,
Bawarlan Reef and Blue Hole.
Daily Dive Rates:
Gili Islands
: US$ 65/02 Dives/Person
Senggigi
: US$ 55/02 Dives/Person
South Lombok
: US$ 100/02 Dives/Person
East Lombok
: US$ 130/02 Dives/Person
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