|
 |
| Amuk Bay, with the villages of Padangbai to the south and Candidasa to the north, is about 6kms across and located along the south side of Bali's eastern point. Just north of Padangbai is the Blue Lagoon, a treasure-trove of marinelife. 2 islands (Tepekong and Mimpang) outside the bay, Biaha a little to the north, and Gili Selang off Bali's NE tip, offer some of the most breath-taking diving in Bali. However, due to conditions, these 4 sites need to be treated with care and respect. The currents coming from the Lombok Strait create unpredictable water movements that can result in a washing machine effect.
|
The Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is actually a small bay, with a steep white sand beach,
located just a tiny bit NE of Padangbai. The steepness of the beach means
there are waves. we take a 15min jukung (outrigger) ride from
our beach. The topography is not spectacular: white sand bottom, which
slopes gradually to 22M, has scattered rocks, soft corals and a huge area of
Staghorn Coral. However the fish life is amazing! There is a large
Napoleon Wrasse that lives here, several kinds of unusual reef shark,
stonefish, moray and blue ribbon eels, nudibranches, rays, squid and
octopus, Leaf Scorpionfish in every hue, Stargazers
While The Blue Lagoon is easy diving, sometimes used for Open Water Courses
and popular with snorkellers, experienced divers and photographers also
thoroughly enjoy the site. Visibility is 15-20M, there is sometimes a
little surge and a mild current, but the bay is fairly protected. The site
has a good variety of Sweetlips, Angelfish, Surgeonfish.
Mimpang, Tepekong and Biaha are all surrounded by remarkably healthy reefs,
but they are generally low-lying due to the - at times, torrential - current
that sweeps East Bali. This current brings nutrients to these reef and
accounts for their diversity. You'll find a vast number and great diversity
of fish, abundant sharks and frequent pelagic visitors set against a
backdrop of craggy black walls with beautiful, healthy corals and often
superb visibility. The water can be cold although it is precisely this that
makes these sites what they are: the deep basin 100km south of Bali from
which upwells extremely cold water to replace that taken away by currents to
the west of Bali. This upwelling brings with it some of the marinelife for
which this area is famous (schooling Pelagics, Mola-Mola).
|
 |
