One of Lembeh’s reefs.

While the Lembeh Strait is renowned for muck diving, it does have some patches of coral reef. The reefs aren’t large, but they are quite pretty, and experts say they display a very rich diversity of corals and related marine life.

"Too many fish" at Batu Bolong

Ever have a dive where you thought, "There’s too many fish down here"? I’m being a bit facetious of course, but it almost seemed that way on my most recent dive on Batu Bolong near Komodo Island in Indonesia. The photo above may give you an idea of how, uh, "crowded" it was down there.

Here’s a bit of [hopefully] good news from Indonesia: the AFP reports that the Indonesian government has declared a large area around Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan a special protected zone where destructive fishing practices like cyanide and dynamite will be prohibited, as will be the dumping of raw sewage and other damaging practices.

The Nusa Penida area is a popular dive destination for people hoping to spot the elusive Mola Mola – the world’s largest bony fish.

The project will be supported by donations from The Nature Conservancy and USAID, as well as the local government.