Gili Selang, Bali, Indonesia

Site Overview
Dive Centres
Site Type: Reef – Scenic
Depth: Top: 5M Median: 12M Bottom: 15M
Location: 30 minutes north in a fast boat from Padang Bai, Bali

The dive site is named for the small island of Gili Selang which provides protection from the current running south down the coast. Like the artificial reef of USAT Liberty, anywhere where there is something – rocks or boulders – for coral to grow on – it will, as there is plenty of food in the currents that swirl by to feed it. As isolated reefs go, it is pretty spectacular. It’s as pretty as this picture!

Coral and clarity diving Gili Selang at Bali Indonesia by Diveplanit

A few seconds of video – so wish I’d captured more video that day.

 

It is accessible both by road and dive boat from Padang Bai. It is an area of big coral bommies and almost ‘meadows’ of low lying staghorn coral.

Meadows of staghorn diving Gili Selang at Bali Indonesia by Diveplanit

Some areas are a little exposed (to current), but offer the occasional glimpse large pelagics.  It is a relatively shallow dive providing excellent natural lighting.

Basslets around a white sea fan diving Gili Selang at Bali Indonesia by Diveplanit

It’s a picture post card pretty reef which a myriad of the smaller reef fish – damsels, anthias, small Butterflyfish, anemonefish, fusiliers, and a scattering of nudis of various varieties.

Flatworm diving Gili Selang at Bali Indonesia by Diveplanit

The most striking part of the landscape are the numbers and variations of sponges, soft corals, sea fans and ferns and feather stars of every shapes, size and colour.

Big purple sponge vase diving Gili Selang at Bali Indonesia by Diveplanit

Some of the more interesting stuff to be seen there is listed below:

This flutemouth hanging vertically inside the soft coral appears to have colouration to match the coral.

Is this a flutemouth in camo diving Gili Selang at Bali Indonesia by Diveplanit

 

Fire Dartfish hovering above their holes.

Pair of dartfish diving The Japanese Wreck at Bali Indonesia by Diveplanit

 

A sting ray hiding in one of the sandy areas; the sand around this part of Bali is of course dark grey to black.

Stingray hides in the black sand diving Gili Selang at Bali Indonesia by Diveplanit

And deliberately not hiding, as he doesn’t need to – the scorpion fish.

Scorpionfish diving Gili Selang at Bali Indonesia by Diveplanit

A pair of Eastern Triangular Butterflyfish playing ying and yang.

Very specific butterflies play ying and yang diving Gili Selang at Bali Indonesia by Diveplanit

In some parts, the coverage of soft and hard coral is amazing and complete – it makes photography a challenge as there is literally nowhere even to rest a finger safely.

Colourful reef scene with mixed corals diving Gili Selang at Bali Indonesia by Diveplanit

The fish are prolific and active – it’s hard to zoom in on any one in particular, though I think this anthias realised I got him squarely in my sights.

Oh ho anthias spotted amongst soft corals diving Gili Selang at Bali Indonesia by Diveplanit

We dived this site with Aquamarine Diving – Bali.  A full hour dive. The trip on Aquamarine 1 was just 30 minutes from Padang Bai.

Reef scene with orange basslets diving Gili Selang at Bali Indonesia by Diveplanit