Bali Scuba Diving Specialty Center BINTANG DIVERS

What is it if it's said, "Scuba diving in Bali"?
Ship wreck of Tulamben, Mimic octopus of Puri Jati, Very beatiful coral reef of Menjangan, Turtle of Amed.... No, it might be an ocean sunfish after all. The ocean sunfish that can be seen in Bali is the one of the world's largest class of the length 3m or more.
Now let's go to see the ocean sunfish!

	Let's know!		Season		Appearance dive point
	Manners and equipment		Special offer		Gallery

Let's know the ocean sunfish

Ocean sunfish is a little different from a usual fish!

Description

The ocean sunfish resembles a fish head with a tail. Its caudal fin is replaced by a rounded clavus, creating the body's distinct shape. The main body is flattened laterally, giving it a long oval shape when seen head-on. The pectoral fins are small and fan-shaped. However, the dorsal fin and the anal fin are lengthened, often making the fish as tall as it is long. Specimens up to 3.2 m (10.5 ft) in height have been recorded.

The ocean sunfish has an average length of 1.8 m (5.9 ft), and an average weight of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb), although individuals up to 3.3 m (10.8 ft) in length 4.2 m (14 ft) across the fins and weighing up to 2,300 kg (5,100 lb) have been observed.

Range and behavior

Sunfish are pelagic and swim at depths of up to 600 m (2,000 ft). Contrary to the general perception that sunfish spend much of their time basking at the surface, research suggests that adult M. mola actually spend a large portion of their lives submerged at depths greater than 200 m (660 ft), occupying both the epipelagic and mesopelagic zones.

*Binomial name: Mola mola

Life cycle

Ocean sunfish may live up to ten years in captivity, but their lifespan in a natural habitat has not yet been determined. Their growth rate is also indeterminate. However, it is known that a young specimen at the Monterey Bay Aquarium increased in weight from 26 to 399 kg (57 to 880 lb) and reached a height of nearly 1.8 m (5.9 ft) in fifteen months.
Newly hatched sunfish larvae are only 2.5 mm (0.098 in) long. They grow to become fry, and those which survive grow many millions of times their original size before reaching adult proportions. Sunfish fry, with large pectoral fins, a tail fin and body spines uncharacteristic of adult sunfish, resemble miniature pufferfish, their close relatives. Young sunfish school for protection, but this behaviour is abandoned as they grow.

It quoted it from WIKIPEDIA.

Season of ocean sunfish

Generally, it is October from July.
It often sees in the low water temperature region (16 - 24C), and It is influenced by the tide and the filling lack of the moon.

When is it at that the probability of seeing is high?

1. October from July in dry season.

2. In addition, after the new moon and after the full moon.

Probability to the last.
It's not always the one that can be seen.

Appearance dive point

It's not because it is possible to see in all dive site.
It's possible to see with a specific dive point. A common part of dive point that can be seen...

1. Depth is deep (40m or more).

2. The current of the low water temperature flows.

Where is the dive point that the probability of seeing is high?

Very famous dive point "Crystal bay" (Nusa Penida)

It's at the point name "Crystal bay" that exists in Nusa Penida that the ocean sunfish is often witnessed in Bali.
In the bay where the boat is made to moor, because there is comparatively calmly a current hardly, and either depth is shallow, the experience diving is a possible point. However, the ocean sunfish doesn't appear in this bay. The ocean sunfish appears in the drop-off that went out of the bay.
This drop-off always generates the current, and has the thing that becomes sometimes a very intense current. Moreover, not only the right and left but also a up-current and down-current change into the direction of the current in each amount.
Physical strength against the current to say nothing of the skill is also necessary because it dives from among such a current.

Crystal Bay Point Map

[Necessary experience]
1. Experience 20 dives or more
2. Certificated Advanced Open Water Diver or more
3. No blank for 1 year or more

Good point known to few people "Gili Tepekong" (Tepekong)

[Necessary experience]
1. Experience 100 dives or more
2. Certificated Advanced Open Water Diver or more
3. No blank for 6 month or more

*If a necessary experience is insufficient...
The skill check other dive sites. Whether it's possible to participate by your instructor's judgment is decided.

Manners and equipment

Manners
As for the ocean sunfish that appears to Crystal bay, there are a lot of staying in constant depth for the action that is called "cleaning". However, it runs away at a blistering speed when the ocean sunfish is surprised.

1. It doesn't approach in a hurry even if it finds it.

2. It doesn't approach more than the necessity.

Equipment

[Cold water]

It becomes diving at the low temperature (about 20��). The suit puts on a full suit (5mm or more) or a semi-dry suit. Moreover, use the inner wear, food, and gloves etc. of the best etc.

Please do not endure and tell it your buddy or your guide when the tremble doesn't stop while diving. You should go up.
After it surfaces, You take off a wet suit and wipe your wet body. Puts on dry clothes etc. and bear the temperature recovery in mind.

- We have a Innar singlet and Hood. You can rental it.
- We will prepare a warm drink at the dry season (October from July).

[Safety]
Please equip it with the vessel to prevent the diving accident.

[Recommended equipment]
- Diving computer
- Surface Float

Special offer

We chose the day when the probability that the ocean sunfish was able to be seen from July to October was high. "Finding ocean sunfish 3 dives!" that watches only for the ocean sunfish is executed. It's a special price only of the following object schedule. Not overlooking at this chance!

Schedule	3/Jul (Sun), 17/Jul (Sun), 1/Aug (Mon), 15/Aug (Mon), 30/Aug (Tue) 14/Sep (Wed), 29/Sep (Thu), 14/Oct (Fri), 30/Oct (Sun) Year 2011
Menu and Site	Day trip 3 dives / Nusa Penida (Basic, dive at Crystal Bay 3 dives)
Fee	~~Public Price US$155~~ Special offer US$120