One of the many reasons Bali is such a unique place to dive is because of regular sightings of the mysterious Mola Mola. This massive creature of up to 2 tonnes is harmless and incredible to watch, and between July and October you'll have a great chance of spotting them. Although they can be found in many parts of the world, Bali is certainly one of the best and most beautiful places to see them.
Its different names come directly from its characteristics and habits. It is called :
"Mola-mola" from the Latin word "mola" which means "millstone" and therefore refers to its oval shape, rough texture and grey colour.
"Sunfish" for its habit of staying at the surface of the water to regulate its body temperature and rid itself of parasites.
"Poisson-lune" (traduction " Moonfish ") , because its round shape is reminiscent of the moon.
Despite its impressive size, the mola mola is harmless to humans. In fact, this giant fish feeds almost exclusively on jellyfish and plankton.
Where can you
see Mola Mola in Bali ?
The best places to find Mola Mola are around Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. There are various dive sites around these small islands, such as Crystal Bay, Manta Point...
When can you see
the Mola Mola in Bali ?
While these magnificent but mysterious creatures can be found in Bali all year round, the best time to see them is from July to October.
Sunfish spend most of their lives at depths of less than 200 metres, so it's when conditions are right, particularly from July to the end of November, that they swim up to a depth of between 50 and 25 metres to have the angelfish clean the parasites from their skin before returning to the depths.
Discover the underwater world of Bali with Bali Breizh Divers for scuba diving, PADI diving courses and snorkelling.
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