Menjangan diving sites , Bali

The island of Menjangan can be dived year-round as it offers some of the most protected diving in Bali. The clarity of the water can, at times, be amazing, and the best in Bali.Menjangan is actually famous for the wall-diving , and the walls drop down to 30 metres on the south coast and 60 metres to the east. They are decorated with an enormous proliferation of gorgonian fans, pink, purple, green, yellow, orange, and some very large specimens too. The walls are full of small nooks and crannies, overhangs, and bigger cavelettes, crevasses, etc. They are covered with soft corals, gorgonian fans, sponges. .


Reef Basics

Walls and wreck dive, excellent visibility
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 20 - 40m
Currents: Moderate
Surface conditions: Calm
Water temperature: 26 - 28°C
Experience level: Beginner - Advanced
Number of dive sites: 9
Diving season: All year round, but can be choppy in August
Distance: ~110 km northwest of Kuta (3 hours)

Descriptions:

* Pos I
located on the south west of Menjangan Island. This site is usually used as a diving training area for beginners with its nice protected white sandy slope.

* Cave point
This site gets its name from the caves along the reefs. They are found in 9-12 m. of water and do not go far into the reef walls so they are very safe to explore. The caves are havens for small fish and invertebrates, like the nudibranchs and tiny baitfish that live amongst the corals and tube sponges. This site is perfect for challenging photography. Morning sunlight can create dramatic photographic situations of the reef life.

* Pos II
is actually a ranger station located on Menjangan’s most southeasterly point. It is usually a relaxing drift dive. The dive starts at 12 meters where the white sandy slope meets the top of the wall, and there is a large cave with a narrow entry (around 3 meters) that leads to a large chamber where you can see a window, which lets the lights beautifully go through. Slowly descending the wall, drifting with the current you will see a profusion of soft corals, sponges, and an abundance of gorgonian. The surface of the wall is full of crevasses, cracks and overhangs which hide many treasures. There is the occasional cave too.

* Bat Cave
located on the east coast. As the water here is crystal clear, you can dive down to 30 meters and your visibility still up to 30 meters as well. It has stiff slope, rich of gorgonians, several types of corals, variety of fishes like white tip reef sharks, turtles, batfish, triggerfish, angelfish, butterfly fish, damselfish and anemone fish.

* Temple point
Sloping dive sites, shallow reef-top. El Nino conditions damaged some of the heavy coral; soft corals have since recovered and are healthy and vibrant. Along the slope, look for soft corals, gorgonian fans & sponge life. Lobster hide themselves under coral and ovderhangs. Blue spotted rays explore the sight, especially the sandy terrain, looking for food. White-tip sharks are seen resting on sandy plains at about 30m.This site had small marine life, great for snorkelling and all level of divers.

* Coral Garden
This site is a drop-off, a more gradual slope than the extreme walls of its south-coast competitors. Many entry points have sandy bottoms that creep over into fields of flowing soft corals, and there are many of burrowing creatures include the blind shrimp, goby, reef fish, nudibranchs and various anemones.

* The Anker Wreck
Actually it is the Kapal Budak site, located on northwest. Dive guides named this site as The Anker because there is an anchor from an old wooden shipwreck from early 19th century that lies on the shallows at about 6 meters. You will lead down the wall to 35 meters by the encrusted chain, than you will find a second anchor and the shipwreck itself. Follow the wall down to 30 metres depth. The bow of the wreck lies at the bottom of the wall and whip corals and gorgonians. The deepest section is the stern at 50 metres, and this is home to white-tip reef sharks. Whip corals, sponges and gorgonians lives in the deepest part of the wreck, while the reef wall is beautifully rugged with overhangs, shallow caves, shelves and cracks.

* Garden Eel
Located on the west coast, Menjangan Strait. Just like its name, it is the home of a large numbers of garden eels and you will see some of the most healthy and diverse coral on Menjangan. The cracks and breaks in the wall are filled with a great diversity of reef fish. Divers might encounter white tip sharks, turtles, barracuda, jackfish, lionfish, leaf scorpion fish and banner fish too. The site is a slope with white sandy bottom at around 20 meters deep and receives current quite frequently.