Located on the northwest of Bali, was first famous for its deer (menjangan is Javanese word for “Deer”). When west Bali Park was declared in 1982, Menjangan Island was included as well and the Park Service controls entry and diving the island.In 1978 menjangan became Bali’s first internationally recognized diving location, with beautiful reef flat. Consequently in 1997 the extensive reef flat at the island suffered damage from crown of thorn starfish, and in 1998, coral bleaching as a result of El Nino.
Although it said, the best diving in Menjangan island is during the south east monsoon (about April to November). You can dive at here anytime of the year, choosing sites on the north or south of the island depending on the direction of the wind.
The visibility at Menjangan Island can, at times, be amazing, probably the best in Bali, especially in October and November with horizontal visibility of 50 meters +.
Current is very rare, even 1 knot of current is unusual around the island.
The most recommended dive site in the island are the Angker, Garden eel and pos II.
ANKER
The Anker wreck is a small wooden boat and no one knows its exact name or what brought it to the area. Dive guides have always called this site the Anker wreck, simply because of the large, encrusted anchor that still lies about 6 - 8 meters from the surface.
Once under the water, the wreck is quite easy to find. You just follow the anchor chain down the wall - a steep, terraced slope to 33 meters where the coral yields to sand. Here stands a second anchor also beautifully encrusted and the first few timbers of the wreck are dark against the white sand. Sheets of copper sheathing, bottles, some brown ceramic bottles, part of the ships, cargo, lie in piles on the wood and sand and there are still some parts of the boat, which remain out of the sand and are covered in gorgonians.
After exploring the wreck we follow the wall to the west at 6 - 10 meters with many overhangs, considered as the richest part of the wall, also it is an ideal place for extended safety stop after this dive.
Using the boat we start this dive from the most northwestern tip of Menjangan Island. Just follow the wall from this point, west of the Anker, around the tip and almost into the channel between Menjangan and Bali main land. Once you arrive at this channel, you will see perhaps the richest and healthiest wall on Menjangan Island.
The nicest thing about this dive is that you end in a shallow area full of garden eels. This area is also known for sighting of white tip reef shark, barracuda, turtles, and of course napoleon fish
POS II
The post II Ranger station is located on Menjangan's most southeasterly point, and can be a boat entry or a beach entry. It is usually a relaxing drift dive. The dive starts at 12 meters where the white sandy slope meets the top of the wall. We usually begin our dive to the northeasterly, where the current usually flows. Slowly descending the wall, drifting with the current you will see a profusion of soft corals, sponges, and an abundance of gorgonian.
