Nusa Lembongan is a small thin island off the east coast of Bali’s main island. On the northwest coastline of Nusa Lembongan, you can sight some wonderful underwater sightings – both common and rare. Let’s check them out!
Three dive sites in Nusa Lembongan
The three most popular dive sites in the north of Nusa Lembongan are Blue Corner, Mangrove Bay, and Lembongan Bay. Common sightings are included in the list.
1. Blue Corner
Blue Corner is one of the most popular drift diving sites around Bali. Its medium strength current takes you on a naturally curated journey across the gently descending sea bed until a deep vertical wall – a diving point nicknamed the Corner.
It’s an overhang that goes down 25 meters and shelters curious and common animals such as the Napoleon wrasse, pelagic tuna, eagle rays, giant trevally, and the seasonal oceanic sunfish (a.k.a the mola-mola).
2. Mangrove Bay
The Mangrove Bay was aptly named for the expansive mangrove ecosystem in the white-sand shallows. In the deeper parts, just a few dozen meters outside the bay area is a much greater expanse of beautiful corals that could make an underwater photographer’s dream come true.
In the deeper parts, temperatures can get down to 21 degrees, but the sightings are rewarding — barracuda, triggerfish, damselfish, moray eel, and snappers, are some of the fascinating finds at this site.
3. Lembongan Bay
Lembongan Bay is perfect for beginners, or simply those who want an easy-going environment – perhaps to practice buoyancy control with very little or no current. Although the site’s name contains the name of the island, it’s a large area with a few secluded spots for a private diving session with friends.
The maximum depth of some spots is only 10 meters, so you can appreciate the healthy coral reefs on white sand with a greater quality of light. Don’t forget to bring your underwater camera because you’ll come across exotic nudibranchs, pufferfish, blue-spotted stingrays, and a lot more fauna.
Rare sights: sharks in Nusa Lembongan?
You might have heard the news that in October 2019 great white sharks have been spotted between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida at shallow depths. This is a considerably rare sight in the tropics because great whites prefer cold water (even all the way down to 3 degrees Celsius).
The presence of the great whites at a normal diving level in the tropics was caused by a temperature anomaly in the water, where the Indonesian Throughflow brought in colder water from the south and the Polynesian Islands to the east.
Is it safe to dive in Nusa Lembongan?
Despite the rare shark sightings in October 2019, it’s unlikely that great white sharks will return next October. Nusa Lembongan is not a natural environment for them. They would likely swim away since there is none of their favourite food – seals, which are often found in colder climates.
If they do come back, there is no reason to panic. These creatures do not actively hunt humans. You’ll be safe provided that you keep a fair distance. Remember to always follow your dive leaders’ signals.
If you think sharks are cool and would like to see them…
You can still spot some white-tip reef sharks in their respective ‘shark caves’ on several locations throughout Bali such as around some islands off Padang Bai.
Around Nusa Lembongan, you can spot them in Blue Corner and Nusa Penida’s Crystal Bay. See the white-tip and black-tip sharks sleeping during the day and watch them hunt at night. If you’re lucky, you can spot other types of reef sharks such as bamboo sharks and the distinctive wobbegong shark. All of these sharks are small and non-aggressive.
Choose your dive agent wisely
For an enjoyable time underwater, do not compensate safety and comfort for price. Know the kind of diving experience you want to have, then look for high-quality equipment for your specific dive needs.
Once you’ve got your diving equipment, it’s time to visit Blue Season Bali and meet your Dive Safari guides, whose knowledge of the local hidden gems in Bali can make your diving experience an unforgettable one!
