...Highlights: manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics...
...Diving environment: healthy reefs, drift diving, beginner and advanced divers, very popular...
Just a short fast-boat ride from the bustling shores of Bali, Nusa Lembongan offers a complete change of pace. This small island, free from high-rises and traffic, is a laid-back diving haven. Diving in Lembongan is defined by its location in the Lombok Strait, where nutrient-rich currents collide with the volcanic slopes of Nusa Penida and its neighbouring islets. This mixing creates some of the most bio-diverse and exhilarating waters in the Coral Triangle, making every Lembongan dive a potential encounter with the ocean's big game.
The dive sites around the island are world-renowned. Lembongan scuba diving offers a unique combination of pristine coral gardens, thrilling drift dives, and predictable pelagic action. Visibility is often exceptional, frequently exceeding 30 meters, and the variety of sites means there is something for every skill level. From the gentle, aquarium-like coral slopes of the Mangrove to the current-swept adventure of Blue Corner, Nusa Lembongan caters to beginners and seasoned veterans alike.
The sheer variety of marine life is what truly sets diving in Lembongan apart. The islands are a year-round haven for majestic manta rays, which gather at cleaning stations to be groomed by small fish. From July to October, cooler water upwellings bring the majestic, prehistoric-looking Mola Mola (ocean sunfish) to shallower depths, offering one of the most sought-after encounters in the world. Sunfish are pelagic fish growing 2 metres long. They are found in tropical and temperate waters, feeding off large plankton and jellyfish. They have large, blunt heads, heavy bodies and stubbed tails, with elongated dorsal and ventral fins that can span 4 metres. You will never misidentify a sunfish! They can often be seen at cleaning stations with attendant cleaner wrasse. This chance for world-class encounters makes Nusa Lembongan a premier dive destination in Indonesia.
Located on the northwest tip of Nusa Lembongan, Blue Corner can be one of the most exciting dives of your life but you will need to make sure that you listen very carefully to the advice you receive from your divemaster. When you descend to about 18-20 metres the current grabs you and you begin the natural rollercoaster ride of a lifetime. There is plenty to see as you race by, as the currents bring with them lots of food for the residents of the reef. The Nusa Lembongan currents also attract pelagic fish so keep an eye out in the deep blue for them and sunfish.
Crystal Bay is perhaps Nusa Penida's best dive site. It is located in the south west of the island and features a shallow bay, carpeted in corals. The bay provides shelter from current and is a good place to start your dive. Apart from the superb corals in the bay, the big attraction here is that this area is a favourite spot for mola mola, which gather to be cleaned on the slopes of the reef just outside of the bay. For many divers, a dive in Lembongan is defined by the hope of an encounter at this very site. Keep an eye to the deep water as sunfish and white-tip and black-tip reef sharks are regular visitors to this dive site. Given the possibility of strong currents it is a good idea to have your own safety sausage and a signalling device for attracting attention at the surface. Expect to encounter chilly thermoclines in the deeper water.
Along the remote cliff edges that form the southern coastline of Nusa Penida are the sites of Manta Point and Manta Bay. Here the sea is quite shallow, cool and can have strong surge. The water is often quite murky too due to the plankton which attracts mantas, often in small groups. The manta rays come here to feed and often stay for quite a while, seemingly oblivious to the attentions of observant scuba divers. If you give them space then you can watch them circling about for most of the dive in depths ranging from 18 metres up to the surface.
Ped and SD are the most popular dive sites on the nearby Nusa Penida north coast, as tend to offer currents milder than some of the other sites at Lembongan. Healthy low lying hard coral reef banks slope gently to 20 metres, then down to 40 metres. Occasional manta rays and schools of chevron barracuda add to the rich variety of smaller fish which seem to prefer the calmer waters of Ped. 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 5 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.
Blue Point, or Jack Point, offers an excellent snorkelling destination on Nusa Penida and interesting shallow sites which is often compared to diving in a giant aquarium and can be enjoyed by divers of all levels of experience. The moderate currents and healthy ecosystem attract diverse reef fish, including pufferfish, frogfish, and barracuda. If you descend below 12 metres however, the currents become strong and more experienced divers can enjoy a great ride over unusual corals.
Toyapakeh is a must for those seeking diverse topography. Located on the north-west coast of Nusa Penida, Toyapakeh features a dramatic wall, large coral bommies, and terraced reefs. The nutrient-rich currents that sweep through the channel fuel a huge variety of tropical fish and colourful corals. It is another site where the Mola Mola can occasionally be spotted.
Diving conditions around Nusa Lembongan Island and in the Nusa Penida MPA can vary. While there are plenty of locations which, at the right time, can be perfectly suitable for the less experienced divers, those who actively seek strong current will not be disappointed. The currents can usually be predicted from the tide tables but at certain sites they can increase (sometimes reaching 5 knots), decrease or shift direction with no advance notice, and may also vary dramatically with depth. All scuba divers should be aware that the upwellings from the deep water south of Bali, which keep visibility here clear, can also make the water rather cold so you may wish to pack your scuba gear accordingly.
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