Menjangan Island
As one of the most prominent tourist destinations in Indonesia, Bali holds more secrets than you will ever know. Not only on the main island of Bali, but the surrounding areas are also worth your visit.
Its natural landscape and the attractions aren’t less beautiful than the ones on the main island. Among the incredible attractions in Bali, you must not forget to visit Menjangan Island. Located only 5 miles northwest of Bali, there lies a hidden paradise of an unspoiled island with the best diving and snorkeling spots in the world.
The underwater heaven of Menjangan Island is part of West Bali National Park Conservation Area. The name of the island, Menjangan, means deer in Indonesian. It’s named after the rare Javan rusa deer, locally called Menjangan, that are occupying the island. Menjangan Island consists of pristine beaches and gorgeous underwater sceneries unlike any other places in the world.
Conservation of the area protects the various coral reef, fishes, and certainly the crystal water surrounding the island. Just like any other places in Bali, another prominent feature of Menjangan Island is the big temple facing right to the sea. The temple is called Segara Giri Dharma Kencana Temple, it has a Ganesh statue towering the sea on the hilly shore in the northeastern part of the island.
The island which spans over 3000 Ha has many prominent features across the island. Savannah is home to the creature protected by the national park. Down the coastline, the calm and mirror-like water enables you to see the marine life, making it the best diving and snorkeling experience.
The fun doesn’t end there because you don’t need to worry when is the best time to visit the island, for you get to see the marine life all year round! The moderate flow of the current and protection from the strong winds enable tourists to see tuna, angelfish, sea turtles. Occasionally, you get to see sharks especially if you look around the outer corners of Menjangan Island. For those who are still beginners, Menjangan Island can be the perfect spot to enjoy marine life because the site is suitable for beginners.
he fun doesn’t end there because you don’t need to worry when is the best time to visit the island, for you get to see the marine life all year round! The moderate flow of the current and protection from the strong winds enable tourists to see tuna, angelfish, sea turtles. Occasionally, you get to see sharks especially if you look around the outer corners of Menjangan Island. For those who are still beginners, Menjangan Island can be the perfect spot to enjoy marine life because the site is suitable for beginners.
Once you reach Menjangan Island, you can see that the island is surrounded by rock formations. These unique features create a large number of caves in various sizes. The caves are inhabited by moray eels, young snappers, and batfish. Known as the best diving spot in Bali and the world, you get to see the colorful underwater world from various spots dotting the island.
Those who love adventure will be surprised to see an anchor wreck at 45 meters depth. The ship was dated back from the 19th century during World War II from the Dutch that sunk during the colonial era. The wreck was an enigma of the past where it carried slaves from Bali to Batavia and as well as ceramics and glass bottles. Now the wreck is colonized by the coral and is a popular site to see turtles and maybe sharks!
After diving and snorkeling to see the endless breathtaking underwater life, relax at the pristine beach with white sand while waiting to see the sunset surrounded by the mighty Menjangan as your company. After that, discover the other temples in Menjangan Island such as Taman Pingit Kelenting Sari Temple and Agung Brahma Ireng to view the exotic island.
How to Get
Visiting Menjangan Island from Bali is easy. You can go to Labuhan Lalang on the northern part of the island and crossing to Menjangan Island using a boat. The boat will take around 30 minutes to reach the island. However, if you wish to visit this hidden gem of Bali, a guided tour is obligatory. There are park guides from the tour operator ready to take you to Menjangan Island.
You also need to purchase a permit to visit Menjangan Island. Such fees and precautions are used to ensure the sustainability of the island. The prices may vary every year according to the season. Please keep in mind that you can’t stay on Menjangan Island for there are no hotels on the island. This is to protect its nature from damage. However, you can still stay in the hotels available on the nearby mainland.
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