Offshore Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs)

The Farther You Go Out the Better

Think of it like hiking. The closer trails are great. Accessible, consistent, a solid introduction to what is out there. But the further you go into the wilderness, the more there is to see. The offshore FADs work on exactly the same principle.

They're anchored 10 to 40 kilometers from shore in water that can reach 2 kilometers deep, these rumpons operate in a completely different league to the nearshore ones. The fish are bigger, and there are more of them.

The Structure

Same basic construction as the inshore rumpons. Bamboo poles, styrofoam floats, palm fronds hanging below to attract baitfish. The difference is what is underneath. Out here the mooring line does not end at 100 metres. It runs 500, 800, sometimes 2,000 metres down to a seabed that is never visible. Beneath the structure there is just open water, dropping further than you can imagine. No reef. No wall. Nothing to orient yourself against except the rumpon and the rope going down. It is a strange and humbling thing to float above.

Swell and waves are the main variables out here. On the wrong day it is not worth the journey. But we do get magical days, sometimes a week at a time, where you run 30 kilometres offshore and arrive to an ocean that is completely glass. Flat water in every direction. Visibility to the horizon. Not a ripple. Those are the days we live for. Visibility underwater on those days runs 25 to 35 metres, cleaner than anything inshore.

Speak to us about timing. When conditions align, there is nowhere better.

Wildlife

The open ocean is essentially a desert. These FADs are like trees. Everything is naturally attracted to them.

At the offshore rumpons, the species list looks similar to inshore but everything shifts in scale. Wahoo are bigger and more relaxed. Sometimes you'll see Big-Eye or Yellowfin Tuna the surface from the depth, or crusinng below in large schools. Mahi-Mahi are also abundant here. We also frequently see whales, plenty of dolphins, and the occasional rare sighting like a Whale shark.

Who This Is For

Experienced ocean freedivers and more competent spearos. The offshore FADs are not a training ground. That is what the inshore rumpons are for. We have boats located all along the north coast of Bali, and we travel to wherever has teh least amount of wind.

If you are unsure of your ability in open water, we recommend starting with our Introduction to Spearfishing course before heading out to the offshore FADs. It is the fastest way to get comfortable before making the run out.