Page 37 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019

The Nusa Islands

Conditions
The Nusa Islands are well
known for the currents that
sweep around them due to
the “Indonesian Through
Flow”, particularly around full moon.
The dive sites along the north coast of
Nusa Penida and Lembongan are usually
drift dives, with currents ranging from
Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan are often easy, gentle drifts through to more
described as being comparable to Bali exhilarating dives. The south coast of
twenty years ago; there is a laid back Nusa Penida (Manta Point I and II) is
atmosphere which does not seem to affected by surge when there are big
have been lost with the recent boom in waves or swell – these sites can become
tourist visitors. Tourism on Nusa Penida inaccessible during these periods. Sites
is a much more recent development but located around the channel between
there are already numerous dive centers, Ceningan and Nusa Penida (Crystal Bay,
accommodation options as well as beach Toyapakeh, Ceningan Wall and Gamat
side restaurants, bars and hangouts. Bay) can be unpredictable with cross
flowing currents and up and down drafts.
The majority of speedboat crossings Water temperatures around the islands
THE NUSA ISLANDS leave from Sanur on mainland Bali to both are seasonal with the warmest period
Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. Boat
being from December through to April
crossings only operate throughout the
(Nusa Lembongan, day and not at night. There are a host of (up to 29 / 30 degrees). From August
to October water temperatures drop,
operators to choose from and crossings
Nusa Penida & Nusa Ceningan) take approximately 40 minutes depending particularly at sites located to the south,
and temperatures of 21 degrees are
on the size of the boat, sea conditions and
tide. common and thermoclines as low as 15
degrees have been reported.
he Nusa Islands lay approximately 12km across the Badung
Strait to the east of Bali. Nusa Penida is the largest of these
Tthree “sister” islands; Nusa Lembongan is the strange Dive Site and Marine Life Highlights around the
kidney-shaped island and Nusa Ceningan is the small island Nusa Islands
which lays between them. Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
are joined by the famous “Yellow Bridge”, a suspension bridge Those seeking big fish rays. Both sites yield year round manta
which has become an established landmark. The original yellow encounters will not be ray sightings at shallow depths. The most
southerly Manta Point site features a
disappointed with the
bridge collapsed in 2016 and has been replaced which a more diving around Bali’s three Nusa Islands! cleaning station just beneath the surface
modern version and retained its distinctive colour. Nusa Penida has two dive sites which whereas “Manta Point II” is better known
are known for their residential manta as a nursery and feeding ground.

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