YiPppeeeee Yes I'm backkk!
And I can say that I successfully saw TWO mola molas :)
From Sanur, a 10 minute bus ride to Benoa Harbour to board the Bali Hai Cruiser (packed with Japanese tourists all heading to Lembongan Island for beach acitivities - snorkeling, parasailing, banana boat rides, volleyball, ocean kayaks, bicycles, pearl farm tours) which takes you to a pontoon an hour and a half later. From the pontoon we load on to a smaller boat which takes us to Lembongan Island, a 10 minute boat ride.
Opt as a day tourist or stay on the island in a Hai Tide Hut - designed in such a way that if you need the toilet in the middle of the night, WAKE up to walk down the wooden ladder and head towards a communal toilet nearby (my first experience haha - by the time I got back to my room I was wide awake).
Two days, Two dives. Two mola-molas were sighted on the first day, on each dive. Minimum water temperature recorded was 20 degrees (in a 5mm wetsuit, 3mm vest and hood - I was able to survive!!). Underwater currents are strong and I spent alot of time staring at the reef wall as a shield to the current.
Both photos have been uploaded - you can view them. They are amazing to see in real life but unfortunately with a bottom time of 30 minutes, strong currents, chances of sighting a mola mola 5 to 10 minutes before surfacing and the rush of all the divers underwater finning to get a closer view, you don't get to see much of them as they swim away too fast.
For those that are considering a mola mola trip in future, check out http://www.balisunfish.com/best_season.balisunfish for dates on higher chance sightings of the amazing bali sun fish as they call it.
For more information/facts on the mola mola aka bali sun fish, check out http://www.balisunfish.com/about_sunfish_mola_mola.balisunfish.
Sunday 26th August 2007 - Channel 51 Astro @ 11am and 7pm. Watch a one hour program on bali mola molas.
