Karang Sari - Lombok & Gili Islands
Mermaid’s Lair, just off Ambergris, is one of those spots that really sticks with you. We love it because it’s so consistently relaxed; we rarely encounter any strong current here, making it perfect for a long, unhurried explore. The reef is mostly shallow, topping out around 24 meters, and the visibility often hits 20 meters or more, which means the light really punches through. As you drop in, you’re greeted by sprawling beds of staghorn and finger corals, interspersed with the chunky formations of great star and grooved brain corals. It feels like swimming through an ancient, miniature city. We’ve had incredible luck here spotting juvenile reef sharks cruising the sandy patches, and often a lazy nurse shark tucked under an overhang. Look closely in the coral heads for shy parrotfish and gangs of snapper darting in and out. If you’re lucky, an eagle ray might glide past in the deeper blue. This site suits anyone looking for a comfortable, vibrant Caribbean reef dive without the stress of strong currents, making it ideal for photographers or newer divers building confidence.
- Location
- Lombok & Gili Islands, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- -8.704700, 115.590300
- Type
- reef
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
Nearby Dive Sites in Lombok & Gili Islands
- AB29 - 0m (wreck)
- Abwonderdive House Reef - 5-30m (reef)
- Abwonderdive House Reef (reef)
- Ada Reef (reef)
- Air Wall (reef)
- Air Wall (wall)
- Air Wall (wall)
- Alamanda (reef)
- Alamanda (reef)
- Alam Batu Housreef - 5-20m (reef)
- Amed - 5-15m (reef)
- Angel Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Angels Canyon Bali (reef)
- Angels Canyon Bali (reef)
- Anker Point
Nearest Dive Centres to Karang Sari
- 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 Karang Sari
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