Blue Corner

Location

Most sources place Blue Corner off the north-west of Nusa Lembongan: Bali Aqua Penida says it is on the north-west coast and Blue Season Bali says it lies off the northern tip. Neptune Scuba Diving instead says it is on the Penida side of the channel, technically a Penida site but operationally a Lembongan dive because the boats are right there. PADI's page for the site, contributed by Blue Corner Dive Resort, describes it as off Nusa Lembongan and says the current can be very strong.

Topography and depth

Tamarind Divers describes a shallow reef with a series of terraces leading to a drop-off wall around the corner itself. The PADI page describes a steep slope with a plateau around 20 metres, with most of the dive around 30 metres. Blue Season Bali describes a sloping reef starting at 12 metres and dropping to well over 30 metres. Neptune Scuba Diving describes a corner of reef that drops from about 6 metres to over 60 metres, where two opposing currents meet. Stated depths therefore differ: Tamarind Divers gives 25 to 50 metres, Bali Aqua a maximum of 40+ metres and the PADI page a maximum of 40 metres.

The dive

Bali Aqua Penida says it likes to start in the east with a slight drift to the west, often uses a negative entry to keep the group together, and drifts on the slope at 20 to 22 metres. It describes continuing at a shallower depth among large rocks it calls the cathedral, and making the safety stop away from the current. Bali Aqua says the currents can be very strong, sudden and unpredictable, that timing depends on the moon and the tides, and that divers should follow the guide because the topography is misleading. Neptune Scuba Diving says that on the wrong day the current can carry divers down to 35 metres into the blue. Blue Season Bali notes that the site is not always diveable because of strong currents.

Marine life

Tamarind Divers lists reef sharks, eagle rays, barracuda, marbled rays and mola when conditions are right. Bali Aqua mentions big marbled stingrays and whitetip, blacktip, bamboo and wobbegong sharks, and calls Blue Corner one of the best sites to look for mola during their August to November season. Blue Season Bali describes a drift over terraces with eagle rays, marble rays and, in season, sunfish. Neptune Scuba Diving describes schooling barracuda, dogtooth tuna, hunting trevally, schooling jacks and grey reef sharks on the right day.

Level and conditions

Tamarind Divers calls it a dive for experienced divers with more than 50 dives and takes two guests per guide; Blue Season Bali says it is for very experienced divers only; Bali Aqua rates it expert. The PADI page says the site is reserved for advanced divers with drift-diving experience and lists Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air and Deep Diver as useful training. Neptune Scuba Diving says it will not take Open Water divers there and requires Advanced Open Water certification with 40 logged dives, strongly recommends nitrox and treats a reef hook as essential. Bali Aqua and Blue Season Bali both list water temperatures of 19 to 28 °C, and the PADI page says visibility can sometimes be bad and the water quite cold, depending on the tide and current. Bali Aqua describes the current as low to really strong.