Bat Cave - Lombok & Gili Islands

The Courier is a bit of a departure from Grenada’s usual dramatic wrecks. It’s not a grand ship, but rather two sections of an old barge, broken off and sitting upright at 15m. What we love about it is how it’s become an accidental reef. The original sinking was in the early 80s, and time has given it a beautiful, shaggy coat of coral and sponge. This isn’t a wreck you penetrate; it’s a site for slow, deliberate exploration. The real magic here is in the critters. We’re talking Barfin Blennies peeking from crevices, Mottled Jawfish hovering over the rubble, and Opossum Pipefish doing their best impression of a discarded twig. Our favourite moments here involve just hovering, letting our eyes adjust to the intricate details on the wreck’s surface and the surrounding muddy bottom. You’ll find parrotfish grazing, and we’ve seen some surprisingly large horse-eye jacks cruise by. It's a proper muck dive, so expect average visibility around 15m, but that just keeps your focus on the macro wonders. Go slow, bring a good torch, and prepare to spend some time on your knees looking for the small things. It's truly a testament to nature’s ability to reclaim.

Location: Lombok & Gili Islands, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
Coordinates: -8.713800, 115.457300
Type: wreck

Marine Protected Area: KK Nusa Penida

Best Time to Dive in Lombok & Gili Islands

The warmest water temperatures in Lombok & Gili Islands occur in December, averaging 30.1°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 28.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 29.6°C
February: 29.3°C
March: 29.6°C
April: 30.1°C
May: 29.9°C
June: 29.2°C
July: 28.5°C
August: 28.3°C
September: 28.6°C
October: 29.3°C
November: 30.1°C
December: 30.1°C

Nearest Dive Centres to Bat Cave

3Wdive
7 Seas International
Absolute Scuba
Abyss Dive Center - FFESSM, ANMP, CMAS, CEDIP, SSI
Abyss Ocean World - ["PADI"]
Adventure Divers

Marine Life in Lombok & Gili Islands

Home to 258 recorded species including 153 reef fish, 44 sharks & rays, 37 hard corals, 10 seagrass & algae, 4 other, 3 clams & mussels.

Notable Species

sorrah shark (Carcharhinus sorrah) - Sharks & Rays
Brown Spinecheek Gudgeon (Eleotris fusca) - Reef Fish
Fluted clam (Tridacna squamosa) - Clams & Mussels
Gendarme Fish (Acanthurus olivaceus) - Reef Fish
Staghorn coral (Acropora hyacinthus) - Hard Corals
Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
Boring Clam (Tridacna crocea) - Clams & Mussels
Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
Spine-cheek Gudgeon (Eleotris acanthopomus) - Reef Fish
seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
Species code: Hp (Halodule pinifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
Bigmouth Goby (Redigobius bikolanus) - Reef Fish
Sleepy Goby (Psammogobius biocellatus) - Reef Fish
Staghorn coral (Acropora cerealis) - Hard Corals

Recommended Packing List for Bat Cave

Based on average water temperature of 29.4°C, currents 23 cm/s.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories