Bali, the heart of Indonesia

Diving sites

POS 2

Next to one of the island’s tiny piers, which are also used as the national park’s control stations, is where you can climb down from the boat to enjoy lunch on the small beach at the water’s edge. After lunch, back to the ocean we go. Once underwater, you descend onto a spectacular wall that descends to depths greater than 60 metres, and contains small alcoves, caverns, and vertical fissures that run through the reef. The atmosphere here is distinct as the sun behind you casts mood shadows , the infinite blue is dark in color, and certain large caverns become illuminated cathedrals thanks to openings in the ceiling that create natural skylights. This particular lighting attracts the interest of most ambiance photographers and makes for some stunning images.

Among the dozens of cavern-like openings along the wall, we search for “electric clams” (Ctenoides ales), which are a species of bivalve mollusk. This mollusk is actually quite difficult for most divers to spot, although its exterior is bright orange-red, and lined with long fine tentacles of the same color. Just inside the opening of the mollusk, there is a strip of blue and white iridescence that can only be seen by the light of an underwater torch, but reminds us of an electric arc.

This site can be a bit more exposed to currents and is often considered to be a drift dive. Thermoclines are also a possibility and can sometimes bring with them larger fish like manta ray, whale shark or sun fish (Mola mola). This dive endsovertop of a shallow coral plateau that borders the entire island.

Accessibility

25 minutes by boat from the park entrance in Bali, and 15 minutes from the furthest dive site in Menjangan. Enjoy the scenery during the trip!

Fauna

Swim gently along the wall and find nudibranchs, scorpion fish and small crabs in the corals. You will not miss to see the parrot fish, angel, butterfly and clown living along this falling. White tip sharks have been sighted on this site!