Page 88 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019

Selayar Island and Bira Selayar Island and Bira

Conditions Dive Site and Marine life For those diving at shallower depths the of cardinal fish shelter behind the
wall offers stunning corals, the chance to
overhanging soft corals and abundant
Highlights of Selayar Island see pelagics, turtles and abundant and critter life can be found on the walls many
Conditions cover the spectrum from and Bira varied marine life.For experienced divers facets.
easy diving through to advanced, this is an adrenaline pumping ride - deep,
depending on the site and the time Shark Point is decent currents , patrolling pelagics and it Opera is a magnificent wall which is home
at which it is dived according to the undoubtedly one of the is teeming with fish. to abundant and varied marine life, there
tides and lunar cycle. highlights of diving on is a lot of action out in the blue and it is
the east coast of Selayar Appatanah Cave can be dived shallow definitely a favourite of Selayars green
The majotity of sites around Selayar Island – and it delivers but for those wishing to see the cavern, turtle population!
are deep but are mainly walls exactly as its name a deep dive is required. This diverse wall
which can be dived at any depth. suggest! This is a wall dive is situated on the southernmost Steps is a deep wall site which as the
Currents range from nonexistent to and slope combination tip of Selayar Island and boasts a large name suggests, drops down in a series
medium, in Selayar through to more dive which offers cathedral style cavern at 45 meters of steps and shelves. The side profile
adrenaline pumping drifts around phenomenal deep diving opportunities along with a swim through and a large of the wall is a topographical overload
parts of Bira. for experienced divers. The wall features recessed shelf – an excellent site with with the sheer size of the wall being the
many clefts and rifts which make some interesting topographical features, primary wow factor. Once accustomed
Selayar Dive Resorts south east sheltered areas for schooling banner fish, deep water pelagics and shallow water to the towering reef the steps and
dive sites are a range of walls which snappers and jacks. If diving when the critters. This site can be dived shallow and numerous recesses and clefts add to the
plummet dramatically from 5 meters current is running it is not unusual to find on the reef top from 10 meters upward effect and the coral growth, which forms
to a few hundred and combine a mix yourself swimming through layer upon there is some excellent white sand muck a patchwork covering of colours and
of topographical features including layer of schooling fish hovering off the style diving. After experiencing the textures, which will leave even the most
overhangs, ledges, caverns, slopes reef. Close to the wall schools of juvenile cavern and larger pelagics at depths, well-travelled of divers in awe. Fish life
and swim throughs. The diversity of fusiliers obscure the view whilst looking the switch to muck and critter diving here equals the reef in terms of diversity
coral species is exceptional and the out to the blue reveals exceptional is quite remarkable – with little current and abundance, passing eagle rays cruise
walls easily rival those in Togean, activity and life. Great barracuda are in the shallows this is a site that offers through the blue, huge groupers rest
Halmahera and Bunaken but fish life often hanging out from the wall, schools something for everyone. on the reefs ledges, jewel fairy basslets
is more abundant here and pelagics of unicorn fish occupy the reef top and and bright juvenile fusiliers add another
are more frequently spotted - shark giant trevallies patrol menacingly. Opera Wall is a remarkable wall dive layer of colour to the scene. The walls
numbers are healthy and may be starting to the north of Shark Point are a healthy mix of hard and soft corals,
on the rise due to the small MPA The initial wall drops to around 30 and drifting south. The wall is curved notably there are some impressive fans,
created by Selayar Dive Resort. meters from where it becomes a steep which forms vertical rifts and clefts wild looking sponges and large black
sand slope featuring sea whips, large characterised by horizontal ledges and corals which harbour schools of glass fish.
Annual water temperature range gorgonian fans, occasional barrels overhangs. This is a wall to rival those
is from around 28 to 30 degrees sponges and scattered formations. At found in the Togeans and Halmahera – Looking out to the blue solitary titan
Celcius, visibility is on average 20 50 meters it drops again to a 60 meter stunning and rugged topography with triggerfish and schools of red toothed
meters but ranges from 15m after ledge which drops into the blue. This an abundance of soft coral which grows triggerfish, pyramid butterfly fish and
rainfall to 30m+ on calm days. dive is all about looking out to the open out from the wall giving the effect of a schooling banner fish mingle together
ocean - large, densely packed schools chaotically overgrown vertical garden. off the reef whilst neon fusiliers, blue fin
Selayar Dive Resort’s marine park of shimmering silver jacks can be found Fish life is impressive – red toothed trevally, large tunas and jacks stream past.
boasts a wealth of critter life and the swimming into the current whilst huge triggerfish and pyramid butterflies school The ledges of the reef make ideal resting
opportunity to spot larger pelagics tuna, a range of barracuda species and in the blue whilst juvenile fusiliers dart places for some of the largest of green
and with stunning walls and beautiful sharks circle out in the blue – common up and down the reef streaking it with turtles which are often accompanied
reef-scenes it would be hard to find shark species here include black purples and blues. Fans punctuate the by their remoras. The many ledges and
a diver who could be underwhelmed and white tips and grey reef sharks. face of the wall and at 35 meters there are recesses are worth peering into – reef
with what the diving here has to Overhead passing mobula and eagle rays some impressive black coral formations sharks and a variety of rays also choose to
offer. ‘fly’ over and large sting rays often cruise reaching up the 3 meters across. Schools rest here.
down the reef.

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