Bali Dive Sites - North West - Bali, Far East & Australia

From the Pondok Sari Dive Resort in Pemuteran, on the north coast of Bali, you can access a range of dive sites in nearby Bali Barat and Menjangan marine parks.
 

Dive Sites - Bali West

Known for close encounters of the fish kind! Large in size and number. Here you can spot all range of marine life: schooling snapper, trevally, batfish, sweetlips, angelfish, and fusiliers plus rare frogfish, crocodilefish, pipefish, nudibranch scorpionfish, octopus and leaf scorpions. Occasional stuff: shark, tuna, bumphead parrotfish and large ray. 
 

Close Encounters 3-30m
A large three sided reef has lots of fish shoals and big coral fields, two of which are very diveable the last is one big sandy slope. Situated two kilometers offshore the Reef has steep sloping sides coming up to a flat top,  with very little if any current  in normal conditions. The slopes are home to big hard and soft corals with nooks and crannies and sponges, 
 

Deep Reef  13-40/50m
Located by GPS,  as you drop into the open blue ocean before seeing the reef rising to meet you at the twenty metre mark. Bottoming out at the 40-50mtr mark with the shallowest point at 13m. Plenty of dense coral formation on this pristine little reef makes for a fun blue water rush. You may spot frogfish, crocodilefish, pipefish, many interesting nudibranch, scorpionfish, and octopus. Occasionally, shark, bumphead parrotfish and rays.
 

Gondol Reef - for big fish
This littleexplored location where the northern end is wall diving, while the eastern end drops away into the blue. This reef is good until 10mtrs then becomes patchy with large sand areas interspersed with small clumps of coral.  Unusual stuff: frogfish, pipefish, many interesting nude branches, scorpionfish and octopus. Occasional stuff: Big rays, shark. From time to time in rainy season a whale shark was spotted and we saw a pair whale out in this direction chasing the seasonal fishes.
 

Kebun Batu - artificial reef is very interesting for night dives
Kebun Batu or Rock Garden is located in front of the Karang Lestari coral project. The Rock itself rises from a sandy bottom no deeper than 18mtrs as a pinnacle or coral with a flat top at the 4mtr mark. The base of the rock on the shore side rises in a small coral mound to 8mtrs. The surrounding sand slopes gently up to the beach. The rock itself is an interesting dive during the day offering a lot of critters and small fish. But it really comes alive during the night. Karang Lestari is an award winning artificial reef project which stimulates coral growth on manmade metal structures using electricity. The process can stimulate coral growth by up to eight times the normal rate, plus producing a healthier and stronger colony better able to resist increased water temperatures. The frames also make for nursing grounds for fish. Good snorkelling location.


 

Napoleon Reef
Two kilometres offshore, a flat topped gently sloping reef but with a small wall on one side, depth range same as Close Encounters. The soft coral garden towards the west is particularly pretty; offering a nice range of gorgonians. The deep end of Napoleon offers the usual and unusual fish from Close Encounters plus a better chance of rays and cuttlefish plus cat shark. Good snorkelling location. Unusual stuff: frogfish, crocodile fish, pipefish, many interesting nude branches, scorpion fish, octopus and leaf scorpions. Occasional stuff: shark, bump head parrotfish and eagle rays (more chance of seeing cuttlefish).
 

Secret Bay - a must for photographers.
Secret Bay (or Gilimanuk Bay): Over the last years this site has become a bit of a legend in the diving community as a critter heaven. A muck dive, really only for the macro enthusiast. This mangrove lined bay 40 minutes drive from the hotel offers many rare and wonderful small things (critters). Not much coral, cool water and shallow generally maxing out at 12mtrs. Marine Life: this is the home to seahorses, a variety of ghost pipefish, dragonet, nudis galore, mantis shrimp and many more. An absolute must for any diver with a camera and a macro lens.


  
 

Tankad Jaran - under water wreck parcours
Tankad Jaran is located between Pura Tembok and Close Encounters. Translated, Tankad Jaran means “Ships Graveyard”. Together with a neighbouring diving centre, our diving centre manager “Düde” has spent some time sinking a total of 5 old ships here. The ships lie at depths between 14 and 17m. A weak current from a type of fibreglass pontoon similar to that on our artificial reef, was built to stimulate the coral growth. A few beautiful red fire fish have already moved in to this diving spot as well as a shoal of pipe fishes.
 

Temple Wall - impressive under water landscape with artificial parts
This small wall which is close to shore which some times makes not such a good visibility, but ist an interesting dive with a good selection of crustaceans. Coral cover and sponges proliferate along the far end where the wall sharply curves into the Bay beyond. The wall bottom ranges from 16 to 35m and crosses into the deep where a fascinating maze configuration heads out across the next bay. This second deep dive offers some large Gorgonians and a spooky dive experience. This is a good snorkelling location.

At this dive spot a kind of underwater temple became reality. At 30 meters of depth you are diving through a temple door which is looked after the common god statues at the sides. You will first reach the smaller temple where you are eye to eye with the elephant god. This temple wall is looked after on both sides by turtles out of stone. Right after that you can finally surround the big Buddha at the wall at the back. 

The whole area is grown over by beautiful gorgonians. At the right light it almost got a mystic atmosphere around it. For marine life you will see the usual, snapper, sweet lips, blue spotted rays, painted lobsters, squat lobsters and fusiliers. Unusual stuff: frogfish, pipefish, interesting nude branches, scorpion fish, stone fish, electric clams, octopus. Occasional viewings can been seen of cuttlefish and  rays.

Dive Sites - Nusa Menjangan

Anchor Wreck - Wreck dive, big fish
Anchor Wreck is amed after the anchor sitting in 5mtrs of water at the top of the reef, this is the starting point for three dives depending on which way the current is running or if you want to look at the wreck itself. The back of Menjangan from here till Post III is all very similar. Looking out towards Java and the tip of Bali it offers a beautiful variety of steep slope and wall. All dropping into the blue and backed by open Ocean. Excellent coral cover, many fish, turtle, shark and critters. Everything you'd expect of a coral reef in a tropical paradise. Currents generally run along the back here in one direction or the over, the dive always takes the easy route getting picked up at the end. Currents can run strong here and like most drift dives you should stay close to the reef and watch your depths. Anchor wreck itself seems to be an unknown 19th century trading vessel, possibly a slaver that ran into trouble and anchored at Menjangan for protection and promptly sank. Following the anchor chain down brings you to a mast at about the 30mtr mark and continues bows to stern out to sea. It is an interesting one off, sharks inhabit the lower reaches and are often seen.
 

Bat Caves - which can only be reached from under water.
A shear drop off, this great wall offers some hairy drift diving when the current is running. Though possible to start here, most divers start at Post II and drifting round the island. This place is a good spot for sharks and other big fish. Bat Caves get there name from the above water caves running along the wall, which are home to hundreds of Bats. These caves are shallow and accessible via snorkelling; though make sure the boat is at hand as the caves are out of site.
 

Cave I -  impressive Drop Off
Further along from Post II is a mooring buoy which is half way along the drop off. If the current is in the opposite direction both dives and snorkelers can start here and head back to Post II with the current. You can also continue on from here towards the mangrove area, before the wall peters out to become a steep sandy slope. Though it continues as wall for quiet some distance beyond the buoy.
 

Cave II -  impressive Drop Off
Turn left and you start the Caves. This is a very scenic wall, going in and out, with steep sided gullies plus small caves. The wall runs deep on this side of the island, Manta and Whale Shark have been seen here in the rainy season. But the later isn't a common sighting in these waters. Big Barracuda hang out here, surgeons, snapper, grouper all hiding in the many crevasses an over hangs. With the sun behind, the wall takes on a surreal property with cathedral like caves. It also offers some of the best snorkelling, as guests can follow the edge of the drop off catching bubbles, enjoying the abundant marine life and vibrant corals. 

Eel Garden - lots of big fish, similar to an aquarium
On the outer north of the Lagoon is the start of the Eel Garden Dive. Running along a steep wall dropping into open Ocean this can be one of the best dives around Menjangan. As you head along the wall towards the channel, the top of the reef gently slopes down to meet you as you drift along and into the channel. Strong currents are prevalent here making it a good hangout for big fish, grouper, Napoleon, large shoals of trevally and shark all like to hang around here when the current is running. As the reef comes down to meet you at 20+mtrs you have two choices. You can either turn in and left, which will bring you into Blue Lagoon or continue on into the Eel Garden itself. Left is where we usually find the Pygmy Seahorse's, following a coral slope on your left side, the right side disappears into a long sandy plateau as you move on into the Lagoon you will have to run the gauntlet of triggerfish alley. A sandy valley populated by titan and yellow margin triggerfish. Be careful! Continuing along the wall as the sand comes up to meet you brings you to a small coral mound that swings round to a sand ridge. This ridge is the garden itself, home to hundreds of garden eels who all rise up to greet the current. This is the entrance to the channel between Menjangan and Bali, this is where you'll find the bigger fish when the current is running. Swimming up the ridge brings you to 16mtrs and midway up a small hill populated by many corals, fish and shrimp. Take the right side your going through the channel itself, left will take you around the outer edge of the lagoon. If you come to the top of this small hill you'll find a beautiful coral garden, which if the currents are running too strong is where you may end up hiding till ist time for safety stops. On good days you drift around the hill and on into the aquarium, which is the only way to describe this place. White sandy channels running through clumps of corals, soft, hard, fans, tables, sponges and fish galore. All in the 12m range.


Menjangan Mangrove - beautiful wall
Mangrove describes a diving spot which consists of a drop-off with lots of small crevices starting at a depth of 5m and going down to 28m in parts. Plenty of hard and soft corals as well as numerous fan corals dominate the landscape. In the corals there are extremely large numbers of small life forms to be found. Small crustaceans, which blend in perfectly with their surroundings, various types of flatworms, moray eels, frog and leaf fish and lots, lots more. Turtles also search for food here often. Besides the life forms already mentioned above, such as flatworms and diverse species of crustacean, we also find the typical Balinese fish species here. Turtles, sharks, eagle rays, tuna and shoals of fusiliers can also be observed here often.

Menjangan Coral Garden - beautiful coral garden
The Coral Garden is a small reef wall starting at a depth of 5m and sometimes going down to 28m. As ist name suggests, here is a superb growth of various hard and soft corals. Numerous blocks of coral break up the scenery in the gently sloping, sandy areas. Flat worms, crustaceans, anemones, moray eels, stone and scorpion fish as well as lion fish are at home here. But larger sea creatures can also been seen here very often if you take a look out into blue water. Along with the typical coral reef fish we can also find banner fish, emporer fish, clown fish and also lots of small creatures such as sea slugs, crustaceans, glass fish, small moray eels and cleaner shrimps. Also to be seen are tuna, reef sharks, turtles, mackerels, eagle rays and stingrays.


 

Menjangan Peti Reef Dive area

Peti Reef - an easy and relaxed drift dive
The description of the diving site is the same as the description of Anchor Wreck. This is a beautiful diving spot with steep drop-offs and walls. As well as a superb growth of corals there is also an abundance of small life forms such as sea slugs, small crustaceans, moray eels, etc. It is also always worthwhile taking a look out into blue water here. Sharks, barracudas, shoals of mackerels and fusiliers are not uncommon. The chances are good here of seeing the larger sea creatures such as sharks, barracudas, napoleon fish, eagle rays, shoals of mackerel, tuna. That the more delicate sea creatures can be found here is guaranteed e.g. sea slugs, small crustaceans, glass fish, moray eels, mussels.
 
Menjangan Post I - interesting spot for snorkelers
Not the best location on the island for diving having a sandy bottom sloping from 16-18mtrs down into the deep. Generally this location is good for breaks and snorkelling having coral running east towards the mangrove with lots of small fish. West heads towards the channel between Menjangan and Bali, strong currents can run through there which is where we find sites Post 2 & 3. Though this area is mainly sand with small areas of coral further out in the channel till it eventually comes into the Eel Garden itself. Drifting out of the Eel Garden into this area has occasionally offered the chance of Manta during the Rainy season (Dec - Mar)

Menjangan Post II -  nice Drift dive along the Wall
Post II offers a short jetty and a beach. Very popular with the snorkelling trips out of Labuan Lalang (the harbour for the national park) it can get quite crowded, especially if there are ceremonies (Onl Balinese people are allowed to enter!). Turn right takes you round to the back of the island on a very steep drop off, where the currents can often be strong when the tides are big. This leads you to the Bat Caves.

Menjangan Sandy Slope -  filigree underwater life and big stuff
Sandy Slope: as the name suggests, besides drop-offs and steep walls there are mainly sandy slopes, with lots of blocks of coral rounding up the picture. Especially in the sandy areas there is an enormous diversity of small life forms such as flatworms, small crustaceans, moray eels, etc. Here too, it is always worthwhile taking a look out into blue water. Sharks, barracudas, shoals of mackerels and fusiliers often pass by. There is a good chance of seeing larger sea creatures such as sharks, barracudas, napoleon fish, eagle rays, shoals of mackerels, tuna. You are also guaranteed to find all possible kinds of the more delicate under water life forms such as flat worms, crustaceans, glass fish, moray eels, mussels.

  

The above dive site availability are subject to local conditions, minimum numbers and scheduling by the Dive Centre Manager and not guaranteed as available.