This is The Best Scuba Diving In Lombok That You Must Visit

By Elsa King 4 years ago

The others best attractions in spain is something of a hidden jewel for divers, surfers, and travellers alike. The most wonderful scuba diving in Lombok still flies a bit below the radar. There’sThere’s a wild side to Lombok diving, and many famously around “The Magnet.” Still, the island also provides plenty of unspoiled coral and life. Speak of Lombok diving, and several divers will mention the Gili Islands — Trawangan, Air and Meno. Favourites among backpackers and honeymooners, the Gilis offer simple diving conditions, white-sand beaches and plenty of turtles. Dive facilities in the Senggigi region, in the northwest of mainland Lombok, also prefer these dive sites.

But, there is always something more to Lombok diving — and also much more remains to be found. Under a handful of dive centres now operate within this remote part of Indonesia. Therefore there’s a good chance you’ll indulge in dive sites to yourself. Fringing reefs are home to an abundance of soft coral reefs species, making perfect hiding spots for macro life. Currents here are gentle if there aren’t any at all. Hence, it’s a terrific place to learn how to dive or get back into it after a little time on the property.

Along with Belongas Bay on the southern shore is home to some of Indonesia’sIndonesia’s top adrenaline diving. There are plenty of dive sites to pick from for adventurous and less-adventurous sailors alike. Below are our very best selections for scuba diving in Lombok.

BELONGAS BAY

Belongas Bay is on the southern shore of south Lombok. The ocean is open with no land for thousands of kilometres, making for challenging diving problems. Schooling hammerheads, and a great chance to see sea snakes, mobula rays and a number of the largest banded sea snakes we’ve ever observed.

DiveZone/Two Fish Lombok is now the sole operator running trips to this region from June to October. Trips are open to experienced sailors only using a minimum qualification of Advanced Open Water and 100 logged dives. Divers also have to be ready for malicious entries, swells and coping with up– and currents down. Divers can stay in the exclusive regional resort, Belongas Bay Lodge, or see on day trips from the Sekotong region. Diving this is not for the fainthearted. Water temperatures seldom rise above 80 F (27 C), so you are going to need a full 3 mm (or maybe 5 mm) wetsuit. This will also help prevent the cuts and scratches that sometimes happens in the region’s more massive swells.

The Magnet is known for a reason — schooling scalloped hammerheads. Impressive waves generally surround this pinnacle with a lighthouse. Underwater, the topography shelters schooling barracudas and other shark species. There are also some overhangs worth checking out.

Named after the form of the pinnacle, the Cathedral is still home to large, friendly banded sea snakes. Divers may also identify Napoleon wrasse and a lot of education reef fish. Sitting right in the opening of Belongas Bay into the open sea, Gili Sarang is where to view mobula rays. They frequently travel in groups of 2 to three and will remain with divers, offering excellent photo and video opportunities. Back in August and September, mobula schools are usually bigger, with dozens of rays surrounding lands.

SEKOTONG AND SOUTH GILIS

The Sekotong area is a peninsula jutting off the southwest coast of Lombok. Facing the peninsula are a number of small islands, including Gili Asahan, Gede, Ringgit and a lot more. All these are house to sandy white beaches and are surrounded by lovely, unspoiled fringing reefs. With only a few divers in the region, there is an excellent likelihood that you’ll have the dip sites to yourself. Divers can observe healthy soft coral in abundance, also a lot of nudibranchs, shrimps and crabs. Additionally, this is a wonderful spot to learn to dive in small groups.

There are two operators in the area, which are DiveZone/Two Fish Lombok and Cocotinos. These both centres will organize transfers from other hotels and the bigger Gili islands to their bases. The seawater temperature ranges from 79 to 86ºF (26 to 30ºC). Therefore most divers will be fine at a 3mm wetsuit.

The Stairs of Medang is our favourite site within this field. As the name implies, this terraced reef drops in the shape of a stairway to a depth of just over 100 ft (30 m). Turtles and a lot of reef fish circle on the top of the reef, together with sharks and even manta rays passing by heavier. Little Gili Ringgit features many worthwhile areas, great for both macro photographers and beginner anglers. Macro lovers will delight in the ghost pipefish, varieties of fish species along with fauna hiding in feather stars and soft coral. At the same time, less experienced divers will enjoy blue-spotted stingrays and cuttlefish.

Located on the outer border of southern Lombok, Lighthouse is a beautiful drift dive that begins with a gradually descending plateau and proceeds to a deep valley, home to sea whales and instruction mackerel surrounded by extensive coral formations. From the shallower parts of this site, divers can view emperor angelfish, sweetlips and giant groupers.

Ready to start your getaway to Lombok? Visit Wonderful Indonesia, and don’t miss out on the magic!