reef

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Alamanda

Alamanda on Lombok’s west coast really gets us excited. It’s one of those spots we love for its sheer simplicity and unexpected finds. You jump from a local *jukung* right onto the reef crest, and the coral starts pretty much immediately. We usually drop to about 18-20 metres, hugging the wall as it curves, looking into every nook. Our favourite part is the hunt for the little things. This wall is perfect for macro fanatics. We’ve spent entire dives here just hovering, eyes peeled for Shimada's pygmy gobies tucked into crevices, or the delicate frills of a Gardiner's headshield slug inching across a coral branch. Keep an eye out for Indian seahares too, they often blend in perfectly with the algae. The table corals are impressive, sometimes hosting a blotchfin scorpionfish waiting in ambush. Visibility averages around 17 metres, which is decent, but it’s the lack of strong current that makes it so enjoyable for photography. It's a relaxed drift, often with almost no current at all, making it a fantastic site for those who prefer to take their time and really explore. The shallower parts, around 5-10 metres, are lovely for a safety stop, bathed in sunlight, with plenty of smaller wrasse darting about.