Kusambi

Overview

Kusambi is a boat-dived reef on the south-eastern part of the Amed coast of north-east Bali, known among Amed's dive centres for its soft corals and its strong current. Bali Aqua calls it one of Amed's most challenging dive sites and also one of the most rewarding: a deep reef and wall dive whose reef is a blend of soft coral gardens, sea fans and sponges. Amed Dive Center says it is special for its spectacular soft corals but usually has quite a strong current, and that it is worth the effort. Dive Concepts describes a challenging drift dive from the boat, out into the blue, with strong current most of the time depending on the timing chosen.

Location

No source gives a position for the site, so this record has no map point. Bali Aqua places it just before Gili Selang, Amed Dive Center lists it between the Japanese wreck and Gili Selang in its list of Amed sites, and Dive Concepts places it in South Amed. All three describe Kusambi and Gili Selang as separate sites, and Gili Selang has its own record.

How the site is dived

All three sources say it is dived from a boat, and Bali Aqua says it can be reached only by boat. Bali Aqua says strong current is possible, together with surge, that the reef is shaped by powerful ocean currents and fed by nutrient-rich water from the nearby Lombok Strait, and that the dive needs good tide and current timing. Dive Concepts calls it a drift dive with strong current most of the time.

Depth

Bali Aqua gives 8 to 30 metres and Dive Concepts says the site goes from 5 to 40 metres; Dive Concepts' page also shows a separate figure of 30 metres without saying what it measures. This record uses 30 metres as the maximum, from Bali Aqua, and marks it as disputed. It sets no minimum depth, because the two minimums come from ranges that disagree at their other end.

Marine life

Bali Aqua names eagle rays, large trevallies, reef sharks and other pelagic life, with sea fans, soft corals and sponges on the reef. Amed Dive Center names stingrays, eagle rays and sharks, with gorgonians, sponges and sea fans. Dive Concepts names red-toothed triggerfish, reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, schools of fusiliers and oceanic species. These are operator statements, not survey results, and none of them says how often any animal is seen.

Conditions and level

Bali Aqua recommends Advanced Open Water or above and says the site suits only advanced divers who are comfortable with surge and drift; Dive Concepts takes divers who already have solid experience with currents. This record rates it advanced on that basis. Bali Aqua gives visibility of 15 to 25 metres and a water temperature of 25 to 29 degrees; this record does not use those figures as values. None of the sources gives a season.