Where in the world are you most likely to see mola mola when diving? Well, that would be in the waters of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida.
This area of the Indian Ocean is renowned as the best spot on the globe for spotting these incredible creatures and is a big reason divers come to the Bali region of Indonesia.
That, in turn, makes our new Emperor Lembongan dive centre the perfect place to witness for yourself the ocean sunfish – as it’s also known – in action.
Mola mola typically reside in deep waters, but during the dry season they come closer to the surface to be cleaned by reef fish. Sites like Crystal Bay and Blue Corner then become prime locations for sightings as these areas are part of a nutrient-rich current system that draws in all kinds of marine life. The gin-clear visibility adds to the magic of the experience.
Diving with mola mola really is unlike any other wildlife encounter. These prehistoric-looking fish weigh over a ton and can grow up to three meters – which is remarkable in itself as they hatch from eggs no larger than a pinhead and grow faster than almost any other vertebrate in the ocean. Indeed, it is the heaviest bony fish in the world.
Despite their size, though, they are shy and slow-moving – which makes a calm and respectful approach essential – providing an awe-inspiring sight as they glide by, often followed by a trail of cleaner fish nipping at parasites.
It looks almost like a giant fish head with fins but no real tail, just a clavus – a rudder-like structure. Its odd appearance gives rise to its name as ‘mola’ means millstone in Latin – a nod to its round, grey, rough-textured body.
A fascinating creature with so many interesting features, there are few underwater encounters that can match up with actually seeing mola mola for yourself. And when you add in the spectacle of manta, turtles, stingray, octopus and various pelagics, well, you can understand why Nusa Lembongan is a truly incredible place to dive and one that simply has to be included on your ‘must-visit’ list.
Emperor Lembongan opens in November but you can book your dives with us now. If you would like to find out more about diving with mola mola, or book a dive package, contact our team on [email protected].