EAST COAST ISLANDS
Where: These small islands and rocky outcrops lie just a kilometre off the East coast of Bali. In good conditions the three in Amuk Bay - Gili Tepekong, Gili Mimpang & Gili Biaha - can be reached in a one hour speedboat journey from Sanur. Otherwise a one hour trip by road, then transfer to either a speedboat or local boat for a short ride to the dive sites. Gili Selang is two hours by road then a short ride in a small local boat.
Highlights: Dive these islands for the best chance of seeing sharks in Bali. Lots of big ocean fish & swirls of reef fish are everywhere. In areas battered by the currents the coral growth is stunted, but still healthy and full of life. In the more sheltered areas the corals can match those of Nusa Penida. Majestic underwater rock formations.
Conditions: All these sites are prone to the strongest currents, which can then bring in some chilling water. This can cause temperatures to drop from the usual high 20° C down to the low 20°s instead. Very often great visibility, with calm conditions in the high tide window.
Special Note: Because of the strong currents here Bali Scuba requests all divers have minimum 50 logged dives before attempting dives in this area, and the final decision to dive here will be at the discretion of the guides.
GILI MIMPANG: SHARK POINT & AROUND
Difficulty: 5
A beautiful site with or without the White Tip Reef Sharks so often seen here. Great corals & Barrel Sponges, usually very good visibility and so much too see. Bright yellow & black Sweetlips, more than holding-their-own against the currents. Sometimes Turtle and Napolean Wrasse. Frequent down-currents make this a site for serious divers only.
GILI TEPEKONG: BLUE HOLE, THE CANYON & AROUND
Difficulty: 5
Just a few hundred metres from Gili Mimpang this offshore rocky outcrop has a number of generous sites. "The Canyon" was made famous in "Diving Bali" for being decribed as, 'probably the single most dangerous site in Bali'. Dive it for the schools of Bumphead Parrotfish, for the Sharks, and for the surreal rock formations there. "Blue Hole" is a short swimthrough which exits out of a sheer wall. On good days you'll exit into blue water, surrounded by swirling schools of Yellow and Gold Fusiliers.
GILI SELANG: SELANG ISLAND TO KUTUMANAK BEACH
Difficulty: 5
Everything is big here; big fish, big Moray Eels, big Sharks and big currents. Midnight Snappers and schools of Tuna and Jacks. Good healthy coral bommies in the sheltered areas, stunted but strong if exposed to the ocean currents. Two of our Divemasters came across a school of Hammerheads here at 50m.
GILI BIAHA: SHARK CAVE & AROUND
Difficulty: 4
A small wall, a rich slope, and a cave at 12m in which more often than not you can find White Tips. This cave is also home to a large population of lobsters. In rougher conditions access to the cave is impossible, though the rest of the dive site should still be accessible. Not only big pelagics but good reefish too, with countless species of Butterflyfish & Fusiliers.