Baung Penyu Bay / Turtle Neck / The Wall - Lombok & Gili Islands

Baung Penyu, or Turtle Neck as some call it, is a real favourite of ours for a relaxed drift. You drop in near the wall, a sheer drop that starts at around three metres and plunges past our maximum depth, disappearing into the blue. We love gliding along here, the wall itself is busy with little cracks and overhangs, perfect for spotting a lurking spotted hawkfish or a tiny cowry. The occasional green turtle or olive ridley cruises by, unbothered. As you drift, the wall transitions into a gentle slope of sand and rubble, dotted with coral heads. This is where we often find blue-spotted stingrays half-buried in the sand, and we’ve seen some impressive cuttlefish here too, changing colours right before your eyes. Keep an eye out for nudibranchs on the smaller coral patches. The dive typically finishes in a shallower, sandy lagoon, a lovely spot for a safety stop among soft corals and seagrass, where you might even catch a glimpse of a leatherback. Visibility averages around 15 metres, so you get a nice sense of space without feeling lost. It’s a pretty easy drift, making it suitable for newer divers looking for a mellow wall experience with plenty to see.

Location: Lombok & Gili Islands, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
Coordinates: -8.528900, 115.513900
Type: wall

Marine Protected Area: KK Karangasem

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 Baung Penyu Bay / Turtle Neck / The Wall

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 Baung Penyu Bay / Turtle Neck / The Wall

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