Trip Report Bali-Komodo-Bali 12-21 August 2024

[rmorgan]

Yes. August is Mola Mola season. So we went to Nusa Penida for Manta & Mola Mola.

Dan, did you do a day boat from Bali, or stay on Nusa Penida? We're going to have a couple of days before a resort transfer in mid-October, and I'm mulling whether we could do a couple of dives off Nusa Penida on the chance of seeing a sunfish or two.

 

[Luko]

we could do a couple of dives off Nusa Penida on the chance of seeing a sunfish or two.

Best bet is to stay in Padang Bai which opens a broader range of Mola dive sites..
Molas are often seen on Gili Mimpang and Gili tepekong which are close to PB, plus the local dive shops do day trips to Nusa Penida. I've seen more Molas in PB dive sites than on Nusa Penida
Staying on Nusa Penida you're limited to local dives sites (add on top Crystal bay has become a circus with dozens of divers on the same site, if you're not the first one to dive Molas would be gone for long)

 

[Dan]

Dan, did you do a day boat from Bali, or stay on Nusa Penida? We're going to have a couple of days before a resort transfer in mid-October, and I'm mulling whether we could do a couple of dives off Nusa Penida on the chance of seeing a sunfish or two.

I actually stayed in Nusa Lembogan & went with Lembongan Dive Center.

 

[rmorgan]

Oh, fine. Don’t need to go—just subscribe to the channel! Beautiful and inspiring video, as always. I will study up and may have some questions (first, how many nights were you on Nusa Lembogan?).

 

[Dan]

Oh, fine. Don’t need to go—just subscribe to the channel! Beautiful and inspiring video, as always. I will study up and may have some questions (first, how many nights were you on Nusa Lembogan?).

3 nights (from 8 to 12 August 2024). We used Bali Fastboat from Sanur to Lembongan, Fast Boat Transfers between Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Gili Islands and Lombok – Book Now! - BaliGiliFastBoat.Com

On the 12th, Mermaid Liveaboard ground transportation bus picked us up at Sanur Harbor around 1pm and took us to Benoa to board on Mermaid 1.

Staying in Nusa Lembogan gave us first shot of seeing Mola Mola at 7am, before others scared them away.

We are planning to go back to see Mola Mola again this year in September 11 & 12. This time we will be staying in Bloo Lagoon Village in Padangbai. We will have Aquamarine to pick us up at Bloo Lagoon around 6:30am so we can be in Crystal Bay by 7am.

When you are the first there, you increase your chances to see them, as shown, below:




After 2 days of Mola Mola diving in Bali, we plan to fly to Ambon to do Ring of Fire in Banda Sea to see schooling of hammerheads with Blue Manta 14-22 September 2025, Trip Code BMROF1, White Manta Diving - Schedules & Rates for KM Blue Manta

I charter the whole boat for that trip. If you are interested, I still have a few spots available.