Dive Sites: Nusa Penida & Lembongan

Posted on August 2, 2024August 2, 2024 by Annabel Thomas

Comment

Nusa Penida & Lembongan Dive Sites

Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan offer drift-diving in mild to strong currents. The water can be chilly but is often startlingly clear, with gorgeous corals, prolific fish, turtles, sharks and, from July to mid-November, Mola-Mola (Ocean sunfish).

Note: AquaMarine’s 2024 Mola-Mola Special Offer is available to book 🙂

The three main north coast sites SD, Ped and Sental have many soft corals and fish such as sweetlips, lionfish, moray eels, scorpionfish and reef sharks, in addition to turtles, nudibranchs and crabs.

Toyapakeh, Nusa Penida’s most popular dive site, has good visibility with rich, impressive coral formations and big bommies. The profusion of colourful soft corals provides hiding places for many kinds of marinelife including Ribbon eels, Banded sea snakes, turtles and nudibranchs. Late afternoon you may be lucky enough to see Mandarinfish.

Gamat Bay, although a small area, with its soft corals, Gorgonian seafans and hard corals (including table corals), is full of reef fish and some quite rare commensals and nudibranchs. On the outside slope are big bommies, overhangs and small caves, that provide resting places for larger fish. Gamat Bay is also known as a cleaning station for Mola-Mola in season.

Malibu Point on south east Penida lies on a very steep slope, with table corals and big bommies. Marinelife here includes rays, big trevallys and huge schools of Rainbow runners. This is Penida’s best location to see a variety of sharks.

Manta and Mola-Mola Diving

Crystal Bay is best known for sightings of Mola-Mola (see sidebar) in the July to mid-November season when water temperatures can drop dramatically! While the bay itself is beautiful, with good numbers and variety of fish as well as gorgeous corals, it also has a Bat Cave: enter from underwater, surface inside the cave (which is open to the sky) and watch the bats overhead. On the deep wall after the Bat Cave we often see Eagle rays and (if you are lucky) the Bali Wobbegong shark – yes really, it’s endemic to Bali.

South west Penida has two Manta Points, both of which have dramatic limestone cliffs descending straight into the ocean. Manta Point I, the further site, has slightly larger Mantas (2-4m width), but can be surgy and is not always reachable due to waves. Neither site has currents, and at both sites the Mantas are seen at 5-10m depth. Mola-Molas, Bamboo and Nurse sharks, tunas, Tiger mackerels and smaller rays may also be seen.

Batu Abah on the far side of Penida is known for Mantas and Mola-Mola.
Note: Despite the distance, all three of AquaMarine’s boats can reach Batu Abah in a reasonable time.

Lembongan’s Blue Corner, although deep, is a very popular drift dive, the highlight being a wall that is usually full of fish, sharks, big Napoleon wrasse, sometimes Eagle rays and Mola-Mola. This site is for more experienced divers.

Why Sharks Matter?

Posted on July 26, 2024July 26, 2024 by Annabel Thomas

Comment

Sharks’ Crucial Role for Our Ocean

by Ara, AMD-B’s 2020 Divemaster Internship

Sharks are among the planet’s most enigmatic, ecologically significant, imperilled, and misunderstood creatures. Their reputation as predators of the deep has earned them a status more frequently feared than revered by humans. However, the reality is that sharks do not pose a significant threat to humans; instead, humans pose a substantial threat to sharks.

Though the question ‘why do sharks matter?’ has no simple answer, this doesn’t mean it isn’t a critical question. Understanding the shark’s crucial role is vital for our oceans’ health. Sharks play essential roles in helping to maintain the delicately balanced ecosystems that keep our oceans healthy.

Sharks Matter!

One of the critical reasons why sharks matter is their contribution to preserving biodiversity. As apex predators, they play a crucial role in maintaining the intricate web of life in the ocean. Their presence helps maintain the food chain balance, as they keep prey populations in check and prevent overgrazing of certain species.

Moreover, sharks remove weak and diseased individuals through opportunistic feeding, reducing disease incidence by maintaining low densities of prey populations. Sharks also play an essential role as facultative scavengers consuming dead carcasses, which can promote stability in food webs.

Furthermore, Sharks migration provides nutrient cycling and nutrient flux among coastal and oceanic ecosystems via nutrient excretion. Researchers estimate the sharks migration brings nitrogen daily onto the nutrient-limited reef, which dramatically helps keep the ecosystem healthy.

Sharks also play a significant role in ecotourism and contribute to local economies. Many coastal communities rely on shark-related activities such as shark diving. These activities not only generate income but also raise awareness about the importance of shark conservation. Shark tourism allows people to witness these magnificent creatures up close, fostering appreciation and understanding. In turn, it creates a demand for their protection and conservation. By protecting shark populations, we can ensure the sustainability of these ecotourism ventures and the economic benefits they bring.

Sharks are not just fearsome creatures lurking in the ocean’s depths; they are vital to the health and balance of marine ecosystems. It is time to shift our perception of sharks and work towards their conservation and coexistence. Through education, awareness, and responsible practices, we can ensure these majestic creatures’ survival and safeguard our oceans’ health for generations.

PADI Women’s Dive Day

Posted on July 19, 2024July 19, 2024 by Annabel Thomas

Comment

Women’s Dive Day Matters for Women in Diving

by Fahmi, AMD-B’s 2024 Divemaster Internship

PADI Women’s Dive Day (WDD) is an annual event that celebrates and promotes the involvement of women in scuba diving. Started by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), this day represents a commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Since it began in 2015, PADI WDD has become a global movement, bringing together divers of all genders to honor the achievements of women in diving and to encourage more women to explore the underwater world.

Representation (empowering)

By showcasing women in diving, PADI Women’s Dive Day serves as a powerful platform where women’s talents and achievements are recognized and valued within dive communities. This representation is crucial as it highlights the diverse contributions women make to the field, from marine biology and underwater photography to dive instruction and environmental conservation. Celebrating these achievements helps to empower women and ensures they receive the recognition they deserve.

Breaking Down Barriers

Scuba diving has long been seen as a male-dominated activity. However, PADI Women’s Dive Day challenges this view by showing that women can and do thrive in the diving community. By putting the spotlight on female divers, the event helps to break down gender barriers and promotes inclusivity. This shift not only encourages more women to take up diving but also creates a more welcoming and diverse environment within the sport.

Inspiring Future Generations

One of the most significant impacts of PADI Women’s Dive Day is its potential to inspire future generations. When young girls see women excelling in the diving world, they gain role models who show them that pursuing a career in diving is not only possible but also rewarding. This inspiration can lead to young women dreaming big, whether it’s becoming marine scientists, professional divers, or underwater explorers.

Creating a Supportive Community

PADI Women’s Dive Day also creates opportunities for women to connect and support one another. By sharing experiences and building networks, female divers can form a supportive community that fosters growth and development. This sense of camaraderie is essential for both personal and professional development, providing a space where women can learn from each other and gain confidence in their abilities.

Promoting Confidence and Leadership

PADI Women’s Dive Day encourages women to be confident and to push boundaries in a traditionally male-dominated field. By celebrating women who have succeeded in diving, the event challenges stereotypes and demonstrates that women are just as capable of achieving greatness. This recognition helps women gain confidence in their abilities and can inspire them to take on leadership roles, ultimately contributing to a more balanced and diverse diving community.