The North Passage

This dive site is located between Gili Lawa Darat and Gili Lawa Laut and is a great place for a late afternoon scuba dive. An excellent drift dive and good snorkeling can be found on the northern face of the passage. The dive can be done from east to west or visa versa depending on the current. Its best to wait until just before or after slack water when the flow is not to strong. The vis is usually better if diving from west to east. The entry point is on the reef slope west of the island about 100 meters north of the channel. Then swim reef left . the reef slopes down to a sandy bottom at 15 meters covered in garden eels. The reef slopt itself is ouite rich . The current is usually very gentle in this area. As you approach the channel keep an eye out for turtles and a family of giant sweetlip live in a grotto near the surface.The sandy bottom then drops away to about 35 meters as you round the corner and enter the passage. Keep the reef left and get ready to go as it gets shallower and the current increases. Its best to stay left in the shallows as the deeper section of the channel has rubble, boat traffic and a down current at the end of it. The shallows are extremely rich and full of fishlife. Bumphead Parrots are common and aggregate here to spawn every year around April. Sharks and schools of Batfish also reside in the passage. Try to fly by the large coral head about two thirds of the way through as its teeming with life and activity. Once you Kreep left and you will gradually get closer to the island towards the end of the dive. The current will eventually drop of as you approach the end of the dive.