These dive sites are highly Wreck-ommended!
The Gili islands in Lombok, Indonesia are probably best known as a world class turtle diving destination, offering an abundance of two species of turtle: the Green- and the Hawksbill turtle. But did you know that there are two impressive wrecks that you can dive around?
THE BOUNTY WRECK, GILI MENO
The first wreck is the Bounty Wreck, named after the history of it being there.
It started its life as a floating pier off Gili Meno, enabling the Bounty crews to sail their way up from the docks in Benoa, Bali. Offering day trips up the Lombok Strait and enjoy the three Gilis.
Unfortunately in the year of 2001 there was a big storm and the abandoned pier got hit so hard that it sank. The platform was beyond repair and the decision was made to leave it where it lay and make it into one of the first Bio rock structures in Lombok.
The Bounty wreck is one of the most loved and dived sites around the three Gili islands, offering the ability of all divers from Discover Scuba Divers to Divemasters to enjoy it's beauty!
The pier now lays on itβs side and is approximately 30m long and 15m wide making it a great place for the drummer fish to hide out in. It sits at 8m at its highest point and 18m total depth. Among the drummer fish, other great finds on the wreck are frog fish, ornate ghost pipe fish and scorpion fish and an abundance of soft corals covering the top.
Drummers on the Bounty wreck, photo by @roosmichels__
Divers on the Glenn Nusa, photo by @harley.underwater
GLENN NUSA, GILI TRAWANGAN
ο»ΏThe Glenn Nusa is an old tug boat that was brought to the island with the help of the local government and the strength of the islanders. To increase diving tourism the decision was made to purchase a wreck and create new possibilities for diving. The tug boat arrived to the island in March 2016 and a team of professional divers from Gili Trawangan helped position and bring the wreck down to where it lies today.
It is located just outside the famous Shark Point dive site. With itβs maximum depth at 28m and the top of the shipβs chimney measuring 21m the wreck makes a great dive to gain the PADI Wreck speciality certification. It has been specifically designed with big openings to allow easy access for penetration dives. The wreck is a total of 29m long and 4m wide making it a small and fun dive site. Want to have a sneak peak (video) ?
Four years down the road this wreck proves to become a great home for lots of diverse marine life. Whilst schools of batfish and snapper circle the the ship, lazy white tip reef sharks share the seabed with blue spotted sting rays. If you have a sharp eye, you might be able to spot some stunning macro life. From pipe fish hanging around the boatβs propellers to leaf scorpion fish or nudibranchs hiding in the nooks and crannies of the ship.
Whether purpose-sunk as an artificial reef for scuba divers, or lost as the result of an accident, wrecks are fascinating windows to the past. Ships, airplanes and even cars are fascinating to explore and usually teem with aquatic life. Each wreck dive offers a chance for discovery, potentially unlocking a mystery or spying something others have missed. The PADI Wreck Diver Specialty course is popular because it offers rewarding adventures while observing responsible wreck diving practices.
In just 2 days you will do 4 dives around the Bounty and Shark Point wreck to get your Wreck specialty certification. This allows you to dive wrecks wherever in the world and continue exploring unseen parts of the ocean!
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