Bali Divesites
Menjangan Island
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Menjangan Island is located 8 miles off the north west coast of Bali in Barat National Park and is Bali's oldest dive spot which is reached by boat from Labuhan Lalang jetty.
The flat reefs used to be regarded as the best around Bali but boat anchors, coral bleaching from the 1998 El Nino and a 1997 Crown of Thorns starfish outbreak caused significant damage. Although the reefs are recovering well the best dives are now on the vertical walls which drop down as far as 60 metres in places. Currents are moderate and visibility averages 20m, often more so drift dives along the walls is very pleasant.
The walls are carpeted with soft corals and large gorgonian sea fans of various colours that sway in the current. Marine life is prolific with all the usual Bali reef fish and some pelagics.
A popular wall dive is POS II off the south east point of the island. Thermoclines are often created by cold water upwellings and these can attract sharks and manta rays. Moray eels including giant moray and black spotted moray poke out of coral crevices looking menacing. Cleaner shrimp clean parasites from their teeth. This is a good dive site to hunt for small critters and nudibranchs.
White tip reef sharks can be seen on the bottom at around 35m. Longnose hawkfish can be seen gorgonian fans. It is sometimes possible to find pygmy seahorse also. Schools of snapper and fusilier are numerous. Other common fish are sweetlips and titan triggerfish. Friendly schools of longfin batfish swim in the blue.The Anker Wreck is named after the coral encrusted anchor at about 7m depth although the wreck itself is scattered at between 35 and 50 metres depth. It's a 25m long wooden cargo ship from the 19th century that was carrying ceramics and copper. Some of the cargo can still be seen. Corals, gorgonian seafans and encrusting sponges cover the wreck. White tip reef sharks can be seen at the stern at 50m.