Gili Selang

Background

The most remote and the most challenging site that we visit. Gili Selang sits at the eastern tip of the Amed peninsula, where the water between Bali and the open ocean accelerates past the island.

From afar, Gili Selang looks like a giant rock broken off from the mainland of Bali. This unique piece of topography is located closest to the infamous Lombok Straight and the Wallace line.

We like to think that any large pelagic species cruising through the Lombok Straight probably treat Gili Selang as a rest stop to have lunch or relax.

Bathymetry

The North and South sides of Gili Selang are diveable. Both areas can be described as having multiple conjoined plateaus with sharp and sudden drop-offs in between them.

Almost all of the plateaus are formed like tongues facing to the east and have the first drop-off starting from 12 meters.

Frequently there are strong incoming tidal currents that split based on the outcroppings of these plateaus.

The currents here are in a different class to anything else in the area. On most dives, at most times, the current is strong enough that you can't swim against it. On the wrong tide, it is not diveable at all. Spearfishing here is technical and requires extreme skill.

Wildlife

On the best of days, the entire water column will be loaded with fish; Fusiliers aggregating on the surface, and large schools of Surgeonfish and Rainbow Runners roaming in the middle. On the bottom the coral will be dancing with silhouettes and life too. It's a spectacular thing to witness when this spot is working properly.

The incredible biodiversity at Gili Selang is a direct result of the current. Everything that lives here has adapted to fast water, and everything that swims through takes advantage of the nutrients the current delivers.

The reef itself is pristine. Untouched hard coral formations. Giant sea fans growing against the flow. Coverage and health that reflects what a reef looks like when it is rarely visited and never stressed by consistent diving, boating, or fishing pressure. Very few operators bring divers regularly to Gili Selang on account of the current, and the site shows it. Seasoned divers that visit this site often return reporting rare sightings like "Thresher Sharks, Mola (sunfish), or Mantas".

A Respectful Warning

Please do not attempt diving at Gili Selang without experience in strong-current environments. The conditions are not something technique alone can manage. They require judgment, situational awareness, and physical capacity in the water.