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.

 

[rmorgan]

That September trip sounds terrific! --But doesn't jive with our schedule. So many places to go . . .

Anyway, thanks for the fulsome response about Nusa Penida. I'm not sure we can make it work, but it's great to have the information.

Cheers, Dan

 

[touny71]

Thanks for sharing this Dan! Incredibly in deepth, feels like i was there myself.

How do you feel about the whalesharks in saleh? Did they become residents due to the feeding

 

[Dan]

Thanks for sharing this Dan! Incredibly in deepth, feels like i was there myself.

How do you feel about the whalesharks in saleh? Did they become residents due to the feeding

Thanks for your compliment!

I’ve done this Bali-Komodo-Bali 3 times before this trip, The first one was in 2014 and we didn’t stop in Saleh Bay for Whaleshark then. First time I heard about it was during my 2nd trip in August 2022. Please see the Saleh Bay Whaleshark video, below.




How do I feel about the Whaleshark in Saleh Bay? From what I learned about Whaleshark under Bagans, when the fishermen see the big fish sucking their net under the Bagans, it is a sign of good luck to them. They throw some fish scraps over to the Whalesharks. When liveaboard operator found out about this, they paid the fishermen for letting divers to dive under the fisherman Bagans. For me this is a win-win situation for us and the fishermen.

The Whalesharks may become residents there in the bay, but not because of the Bagans. They are filter feeder. They eat mostly planktons, consuming over 20 kg (44 lbs) a day. Those Bagans are tiny relative to that huge bay. Sucking fish scraps that fall through the nets are just tiny portions of what they consume. It’s more like a snack.

The big lights that the fishermen turn on at night to attract planktons, critters (squids, shrimps, etc.) & small fishes that eat the planktons. The nets are raised every so often to collect their catch (small fishes & critters). The abundance of the plantons, attracted by the lights, bring the Whalesharks to filter feed the planktons around the Bagans.

I have seen Whalesharks under Bagans in several other places in Indonesia, such as In Cendrawasih Bay in northwestern Papua in June 2015, Tali Sayang in eastern Kalimantan in August 2022 and the latest one was in Kaimana in western Papua in January 2025.

The one in Kaimana is the best one so far whiere we saw, not only Whalesharks, but also Dolphins, Sailfish, Tuna, as shown, below.

 

[touny71]

Thanks for your compliment!

I’ve done this Bali-Komodo-Bali 3 times before this trip, The first one was in 2014 and we didn’t stop in Saleh Bay for Whaleshark then. First time I heard about it was during my 2nd trip in August 2022. Please see the Saleh Bay Whaleshark video, below.




How do I feel about the Whaleshark in Saleh Bay? From what I learned about Whaleshark under Bagans, when the fishermen see the big fish sucking their net under the Bagans, it is a sign of good luck to them. They throw some fish scraps over to the Whalesharks. When liveaboard operator found out about this, they paid the fishermen for letting divers to dive under the fisherman Bagans. For me this is a win-win situation for us and the fishermen.

The Whalesharks may become residents there in the bay, but not because of the Bagans. They are filter feeder. They eat mostly planktons, consuming over 20 kg (44 lbs) a day. Those Bagans are tiny relative to that huge bay. Sucking fish scraps that fall through the nets are just tiny portions of what they consume. It’s more like a snack.

The big lights that the fishermen turn on at night to attract planktons, critters (squids, shrimps, etc.) & small fishes that eat the planktons. The nets are raised every so often to collect their catch (small fishes & critters). The abundance of the plantons, attracted by the lights, bring the Whalesharks to filter feed the planktons around the Bagans.

I have seen Whalesharks under Bagans in several other places in Indonesia, such as In Cendrawasih Bay in northwestern Papua in June 2015, Tali Sayang in eastern Kalimantan in August 2022 and the latest one was in Kaimana in western Papua in January 2025.

The one in Kaimana is the best one so far whiere we saw, not only Whalesharks, but also Dolphins, Sailfish, Tuna, as shown, below.

Again, thank you for your input.
Will try to add this to my tour next year

 

[Dan]

Again, thank you for your input.
Will try to add this to my tour next year

You’re welcome!

This trip is very popular. Don’t wait too long, DM @aquabluegreg for competitive prices. He’s my dive travel agent.