Golden Rock

Background

This dive site is also called "The GT Spot" by the local fisherman on account of the Giant Trevally that can be caught here. It's commonplace name Golden Rock is because of the Golden Shrine that is placed on the beach. This monument is also utilized by divers to help triangulate where to drop for drift dives.

Bathymetry

North of the Golden Rock is a wide small bay that holds incredible coral and the same gradual sloping plateau that starts at 5 meters, and drops down to around 20 meters before leveling out again, and then dropping. This is a healthy reef and one of the few places that you can consistently see Red Bass.

On most days the current is southbound. Occasionally an incoming oceanic current splits on the topography in front of the Golden Rock and will push North or South. Moving South through the site, the terrain becomes rocky, with smaller hard corals. This is where many large parrotfish patrol.

The rocks starts to be replaced with coral in the most southern section of this site. At around 12 meters of water there are 4 noticeable large coral heads approximately 8 - 10 meters wide that hold a small school of midnight snapper. Again this is where a drop-off starts descending eastwards to a average depth of 24 meters before leveling out again. This wall that drops off holds a health population of reef fish and is frequently visited by pelagic species. Thermoclines are present and noticeable below 15 meters throughout this site.

The Pinnacle

Eastward, after the first drop-off lies a secret pinnacle rising from open water that can feature schooling Giant Trevally. It is challenging to hit this pinnacle when it's holding fish, because the current will be in excess of 3 knots.

When It's Firing

From afar you know that the site is active, because you'll see 3+ meter tall pressure waves boiling in a section east of the Golden Rock. These waves are able to flip a local jukung boat easily and extreme caution is required for diving this site.

The risk of diving here can also be rewarded with extreme volume of wildlife. When the current is running, the entire water column can be stacked with fish. Fusiliers roaming the surface along with small groups of Shark Mackerel hunting. Massive schools of Surgeon fish roam the middle of the water column, and the reef will be bustling with activity.

Golden Rock delivers something genuinely difficult to find elsewhere on the coast. Scuba divers that brave here sometimes report sightings of Mola (Sunfish). Local spearos also report seeing Marlin here occasionally.

Experienced Divers Only

Experienced freedivers only. Strong open-water current requires management experience, not just fitness. When you can visually see static pressure waves boiling Infront of the golden rock, then it means down currents are present at some sections of this site. For spearfishing, this is one of the strongest spots in the area that can hold the opportunity for a monster fish. But extreme caution and a experienced guide is required.