Did you know that some of the most iconic critters found when scuba diving in Indonesia come out to play after the sun has set? Many of our favourite species are nocturnal and can only be spotted during night dives. Other critters may be seen during the day but their most intriguing behavioral action can only be observed at night. At all of our phenomenal Two Fish Divers locations, we offer night dives so you can see all that the area has to offer. Here are some of the highlights of night diving in each of our locations – and remember, when the sun goes down, the party is just getting started!
Night Diving Lembeh
Night dives are some of the best dives we have in Lembeh. We have a few regular night dive spots such as Jahir & Aer Prang (black sand sites) and then Serena West & Nudi Falls (white sand/rubble).
When night diving in Lembeh, the amount of octopus and squid which we see is hugely increased. Bobtail squid (pictured below) are only seen at night and are a super adorable highlight for sure! One of the rarest critters in Lembeh is the Starry Night Octopus which is also exclusively found at night. Other highly sought after ‘creatures of the night’ are the Bobbit Worm (above) and Stargazer. These can be found at both Jahir and Aer Prang and we have an excellent success rate at spotting them.
Harlequin shrimp and boxer crabs at Serena West are a frequent find and they also make excellent underwater photography subjects! When night diving from Two Fish Lembeh Resort, the boat leaves at 5:30pm and we make a 60 minute dive so you return just about 7pm – in good time for a well deserved dinner in the restaurant.
Of course, you can also night dive the house reef where we have found common seahorses, long arm octopus and even Lembeh seadragons!
The minute bobtail squid is one of Lembeh’s cutest of all night diving critters
Night Diving in Bunaken
Our night dives are usually at Lekuan 3 or Muka. We often see Bobtail squid, cuttlefish and several octopus species as well as the occasional Spanish dancer swimming (see below). Around the new moon, we are also treated to great bio-luminescence. Turtles sleeping and occasional shark sightings keep it exciting too! We can do night dives every night and the boat will depart at 5:30pm to 5:45pm, depending on the dive site, for a 60 minute dive to make sure we are back for dinner.
Spanish Dancers are a nocturnal dorid nudibranch which can famously “swim”
Night Diving in Nusa Lembongan
It is possible to night dive in Lembongan Bay when the tides are right. This shallow sandy patch is bordered by a stretch of stunning coral reef. During night dives we are often treated to an array of crustaceans including sponge crabs, dancing shrimp and other sand-dwelling species. One of the highlights of a night dive in Lembongan Bay is when one of the mammoth marble stingrays are spotted gliding over the sand hunting for critters which lay beneath the surface – they are reminiscent of spacecraft coming into land! If you would like to night dive with us during your stay at Two Fish Divers Lembongan, let us know so that we can check the tides for the best available evening.
One of the highlights of Lembongan Bay is the occasional hunting marble stingrays
Night Diving South Lombok
Night diving in South Lombok is a real treat – once you have explored our dive sites by daylight you’ll be itching to see them after the sun has set. We have a plethora of critters – and larger species that come out to play once the sun has gone down. This is also when we see some of the most extraordinary behaviour on the reefs, mating to courtship and hunting.
We are lucky enough to have both reef and muck diving sites to explore, according to your preference, and each type of dive site brings with it, it’s own unique set of marine species and action. Moray eels which are usually holed up in the reef can be seen hunting, a range of cephalopods and unique crustaceans come out to join the action and whilst some critters are getting active we often see our day time favorite hiding away for the night such as the parrotfishes which envelope themselves in a protective bubble made of their own saliva.
Parrotfish sleep inside a protective bubble made from their own saliva
Night Diving Amed, Bali
The variety of dive sites in Amed have a lot to offer those interested in Night Diving! Most of the night dives here begin just as the sun sets. Night Divers can choose from muck dives, coral sites or even explore a wreck. Here are a few of the sites we frequent for night dives and some of their highlights:
The Two Fish Amed House Reef: This site is just a few steps away from the dive center, making it easily accessible at night for our guests. On this amazing muck dive, you have a high chance of seeing longarm octopus and coconut octopus. We also have mimic octopus that may put on a show for our guests. You can discover ghost pipefish, frogfish, wasp fish and many varieties of crabs and shrimp that come out to hunt during the night. If you’re able to see past their camouflage, you can often spot decorator crabs by their glowing eyes. The Two Fish House Reef is not to be missed day or night!
Bumphead parrotfish sleep in the superstructure of the USAT Liberty wreck before returning to the depths during the day
The USAT Liberty Shipwreck: Diving this site at night is a completely different experience than during the day. You can expect to see lots of life in the area at night. You may be lucky to view the resident school of bumphead parrotfish or even the impressive large marble groupers swim past. Octopus, eels, crabs, and shrimp are also spotted coming out to hunt for their evening meals. This is one of the highlights of night diving in Amed for sure!
Jemeluk Bay: This bay provides the perfect shelter for a night dive. The sloping reef and wall attract lots of life day or night. The silhouette of the wall with its massive gorgonians is not to be missed. Jemeluk Bay is also home to many statues that are an incredible backdrop and the perfect hiding spot for many little critters. Here you can find scorpionfish, boxer shrimp, Spanish Dancers and so much more. In the shallow reef and sandy slope, you can spot eels, stingrays, octopus and maybe even seahorses.
Mandarin fish dives are available at almost all two fish divers locations
Mandarin Fish Dives
We haven’t mentioned this stunning and ornate looking critter here because we thought it deserved a Blog all of its own! Mandarin fish dives are held at Two Fish Divers Lembeh, Bunaken and are coming soon at Two Fish Divers South Lombok. To find out more about our mandarin fish dives and facts and information about this incredible species and it’s unique sunset mating rituals, click here.
Want to make great savings? Check out our SPECIAL OFFERS HERE!
If you’d like to make an enquiry or to ask us any questions about night diving or making a booking, fill in the form below and we will get right back to you. We are offering maximum flexibility on bookings and great discounts so that you can save and rest assured that you can switch dates if needed!
