Bias Tugel / White Sand Beach - Lombok & Gili Islands

Deep Sponge, sitting just off 2 Mile Reef, really earns its name. We love dropping onto a relatively flat top at 27 metres, then watching it gently slope down to its maximum of 29. It’s here that the wall truly starts, dropping another metre or two into the gloom, and that’s where you’ll find those enormous vase sponges. They are genuinely massive, some of the biggest we’ve seen, creating a lunar landscape of organic filters. The soft coral covering is beautiful, swaying gently with any surge, but it’s the scale of those sponges that will stick with you. We often spot strawberry groupers tucked into crevices, their iridescent scales a real treat, and the half-circled angelfish are always a splash of colour. Keep an eye out for larger pelagics too; we've had encounters with potato bass cruising the edges of the drop-off. Visibility averages around 16 metres, which is decent for the depth, allowing you to really appreciate the size of the reef structure. This is a solid dive for experienced deep divers looking for something a bit different, away from the busier sections of the reef.

Location
Lombok & Gili Islands, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
-8.536200, 115.509200
Type
reef

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

Nearby Dive Sites in Lombok & Gili Islands

Nearest Dive Centres to Bias Tugel / White Sand Beach

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

Recommended Packing List for Bias Tugel / White Sand Beach

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