Bali Dive Site: Tulamben Area – Batu Kelebit

Tulamben Area – Batu Kelebit Dive Site

Batu Kelebit Dive Site

Just slightly further round the volcanic spur than Palung-Palung, Batu Kelebit is about 15mins from Tulamben Bay by jukung (local outrigger fishing boat).

Batu Kelebit is basically two large rocks that lie just offshore. As you follow the sloping reef deeper, the dive site becomes more dramatic. You’ll see three steep ridges encrusted with a wonderful diversity of hard and soft corals, fire and table corals, many beautiful sea fans, and sponges.

Between the ridges are channels of grey and white sand that run 25-40m in depth. Here we often see schools of Big-eyed trevallys, while on the sand are Fire dartfish, Gold-specs jawfish, Starry puffers and cuttlefish.

Different Marine Life than Tulamben Bay

In fact, it is not only the colour of the sand that differs from Tulamben Bay. The species of even the most common reef fish are different too.

The steepness of the site combined with the structure of the ridges, and plankton-rich water, means you have more chance to see pelagics here than within Tulamben Bay itself. These include barracuda, tuna, Manta rays, White-tip reef sharks, turtles, Dogtooth tuna and sometimes Mola-Mola (Ocean sunfish).

The water is cooler here (26°C is not unusual) due to a cold upwelling from the depths. Visibility can be as low as 15-20m due to plankton but is usually better.

Although the channels are well-protected, as the (north west) current varies from mild to quite strong with occasional deceptive down currents, you need to watch your depth and stay near your guide.