Such a local feel to diving here. Everything from loading the micro-bus with tanks and gear; piling in with the other divers; to the pre-dive briefing is slow-speed. A rattling bus ride along drop-dead lush green landscape - about 30 minutes to the marina from my Pemuteran hotel - Ajuna Homestay. After the guides load the tanks and gear, we board a wooden fishing boat for our dive adventure today. Backward roll entries, handing our BCD's up over the gunwale after each dive. Another dive experience is added to the list!
The 30 minute boat ride to the dive sites is absolutely wonderful. A porpoise follows the boat for a while, flying fish jump before the bow. No rush. Enjoy the moment. Get ready to suit up. The guides begin assembling the equipment for-us. Not much room on these small fishing-boats, but the conditions are so forgiving it works perfectly.
The first three dives here where typical - easy, drift diving. A few frog fish, giant clams, fan coral, an eel garden, great visibility and warm water, no currents - calm as a lake, but not over-the top coral and sea-life. I still loved these dives, but nothing to rave about.
... BUT, that all changed on the 4th dive. WOW, Perfect from the start to finish. 5-6 Pygmy Seahorses, Small-micro sized crabs, small lobster, a white tipped shark in a cave, giant clams, nudibranch wall diving the entire time. The wall has numerous cut's as we drift past, but eventually we come to a larger one; more of a small cave. That shark inside put on a show, just circling the floor - pausing for photo's - I could have stayed an hour watching. Water temp was at-least 83F, visibility 60-80ft. Coral was the healthiest I see on Menjangan.
Between dives both days I dove this island paradise we stop for lunch and disembarked. Eating rice and fish or chicken …(hard to tell sometimes!!) And using the Indonesian toilet system...no flushing, a squat-toilet with a large bucket of water and a ladle to dilute your waste and 'flush' the system. Definitely takes some adjustment.
Fun to share diving experiences and discuss travel with the other tourist divers over Indonesian rice under palms and the Bali coastline.
Mejangan island lies at the NorthWest corner of Bali, with Java just a km or two across a short straight. Looming above us on Java is a huge Volcano - So Cool. Tropical paradise.
The relaxed casual diving approach was fun. I'd go again in a minute. The coral here underwent a terrible storm 4-5 years back, and the area had been fished with dynamite just before..but since becoming a protected Area, with park entrance fees .. the locals tell me the recover is slowing occurring. Still, I don't see many reef fish yet- but the coral is making a comeback for sure.
There are a ton more dive sites on Bali, but this is all I have time for here. Wow..I need to return and just stop for a while here.
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