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Cool stuff and all things fishy

Bryce – Why I Like Scuba Diving in Lembongan

By Underwater Life

Why I like Scuba Diving in Lembongan

Walking into Water While Scuba Diving in LembonganI learnt to dive 16 years ago. It all started with a try dive in a swimming pool at an island resort while on holiday. I then returned to New Zealand to do my PADI Open Water course. I spent the next 5 years diving in Wellington harbour, which was a 2 hour drive for some pretty “interesting” shore diving. Wellington harbour is known for its cold waters, surf entries, limited visibility due to the very silty bottom and little fish life. Most people dive there to collect shellfish. This is where I did my divemaster and instructor courses and taught in these conditions before moving to work in the pacific islands.

I have spent the last 9 years teaching diving around South East Asia, from the Pacific Islands to India. Over this time, I have seen many different creatures underwater, some healthy reefs and some unhealthy reefs. I have worked with some great people and worked against some very competitive dive shops. And then I moved to do scuba diving in Lembongan.

The scuba diving in Lembongan was a very nice surprise. After seeing reefs completely bleached by warming waters, reefs dyeing from commercialization and rubbish, it is so nice to see such healthy coral growth while scuba diving in Lembongan.

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Finding Nemo – Exposed

By Conservation, Underwater Life

Finding Nemo in LembonganFinding Nemo in Lembongan

In 2003,  Pixar Animation Studios filled the silver screen with bright colours and introduced children and parents alike, to Nemo the Clown Fish. It was because of Finding Nemo, that Clown Fish would now consistently be refereed to as Nemo(s).

Nemo and his friends underwater adventures helped introduce a new generation to the underwater world. This in turn helped spike interest in scuba diving, fish and despite the horrifying scene of Nemo being snatched for a personal collection, an extreme boost in Clown Fish sales, for pets.

Even though more Clown Fish were being taken from the oceans, for aquariums, Finding Nemo did fill children with wonder about the underwater world, different fish and a new found love for Clown Fish.

We know that Finding Nemo is a kids movie about adventures, friendship and family, which needed to be delivered in a child-friendly way, but there are a few facts that are just not quiet correct.

Let’s break these facts down point by point: Read More

Stunning Week in Lembongan

By Underwater Life

Manta Ray in Manta Bay

Last week at Twin Island Dive…

What a week it has been here at Twin Island Dive, in Nusa Lembongan. We have had some very lucky divers with us, who have seen some of the best sea creatures that Lembongan has to offer! What a stunning week in Lembongan, it has been! Manta Bay was 100% the standout dive site of the week.

We have had everything from PADI Discover Scuba Divers, to PADI Open Water course to lots of fun divers. All these divers have brought an amazing amount of luck to their dives.

Started the week right!

The week started with Jesper and Michella doing their PADI Open Water course with us. After completing the theory and swimming pool skills, it was time to get out into the ocean for their open water dives.

On the 2nd day of their ocean dives, while diving at Manta Bay, everyone on the boat got the chance to see dolphins playing around at the surface. Instructor Bryce and Jesper, descended for the start of their dive and headed in the direction of where the dolphins were.

10 minutes into the dive, Bryce banged on his tank and pointed into the distance. Although they were a bit far away, both Bryce and Jesper, had the chance to watch the passing pod of dolphins. Read More

Nudibranchs

By Underwater Life

NuNudibranchsdibranchs in Lembongan

Lembongan is very famous for its larger creatures, but when you take the time to look, you may find some crazy little creatures too. Nudibranchs can be found at all the dive sites around Lembongan and Penida. These small ‘slug’ creatures are very much a favorite creature to many divers.

Colourful Creatures to spot:

Nudibranchs are noted for their often extraordinary colours and striking forms. Currently there are about 2,300 valid species of them that are known. With this, it is possible to buy fish ID books that have 100s of pages full of these colourful creatures.

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Molas in Lembongan

By Underwater Life

Molas in LembonganOne of the star attractions in the waters around the Nusa islands, are the Molas in Lembongan. These strange and interesting creatures, bring divers from all over the world, to catch a glimpse of them. As we are getting closer to the Molas season, it is time to fill you full of knowledge about the mysterious Mola.

We are going to be looking at:

  • Mola Anatomy
  • The Family of the Mola
  • Life of the Mola
  • Cleaning Stations

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Diving the Channel

By Underwater Life

Channel diving with KippThe north coast of Penida provides some spectacular diving. Rich in coral life, dense with fish diversity and many little creatures to find. The South coast provides a world famous environment for regular sightings of Manta Rays.

But what is going on in between the north and south coasts?

The channel that runs between the islands of Ceningan and Penida, lays home to some of the most amazing and extreme dive sites that the area has to offer.

This narrow strip of water, pulls the ocean from Bali and Lombok, through a thin, deep channel. It is this situation that creatures some of the most breath taking dives, as well as, some of the fastest.

With all the factors involved with these dive sites, not many dive centres dive in the channel, but is it really that bad? Read More

North Coast of Nusa Penida

By Underwater Life
Diving in Lembongan is famous for the Manta Rays found in the south of Penida and the Molas found in Crystal Bay. These dive sites can all be seen in just one days diving. What about the other sites that Lembongan and Penida provide? The long stretching north coast of Penida and Lembongan, are home to most of the dive sites around the islands. There are 7 main dive sites that run along this coast line. It is these sites that have the best coral life of the area.
Due to the conditions of south coast, it is hard for the more sensitive soft corals to grow. Read More

Titan Triggerfish and Nesting

By Underwater Life
Titan Triggerfish in LembonganPicasso, titan, blue, red tooth, clown, reef masked. These are just some of the names of the many different types of Triggerfish. Here in Lembongan, the most common Triggerfish that we get, are the Titan Triggerfish, Clown Triggerfish and the Redtooth Triggerfish. The most ‘infamous’ of the types of Triggerfish, is the Titan Triggerfish, due to its ‘interest’ nesting habits.

We are going to look at some information about these 3 types of Triggerfish that we get around Lembongan. This information is to help keep you informed and aware about these interesting creatures of the sea. Read More

Lion Fish in Lembongan – Friend or Foe

By Conservation, Underwater Life
Lion Fish in LembonganThe Lion Fish is an interesting creature. Parts of the world, Lion Fish are a pest which are hunted and killed. In other parts of the world, it is another unique fish to look out for while diving. The Lion Fish in Lembongan, are indigenous to the area, so for us, they are an interesting fish to check out.

Why are Lion Fish hunted in some parts of the world?

In parts of the world the Lion Fish is considered a pest, they are not indigenous to the area.  Lion Fish are an introduced species, which have very few predators to control their population. This
then creatures an unbalance underwater. With more Lion Fish on the reef, hunting the smaller fishes, the Lion Fish cause fish numbers to reduce. To help give the smaller fish a fighting chance and to help restore some balance, humans have started to intervene and cull the Lion Fish.

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Know your diving equipment

By Underwater Life

Divers UnderwaterHaving the right diving equipment for the dive, makes sure you have a fun and safe underwater experience. It is important to know your diving equipment.

We are going to have a look at 4 key areas of equipment:

  • Why it is important to have a correct fitting wetsuit.
  • A mask should be the first piece of equipment you should buy.
  • The importance of having the right size of BCD.
  • What is the difference in regulators

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