North Lombok: Medana Bay Dive Site – Lombok

Site Overview

Medana Bay is a sheltered bay on the north coast of Lombok that offers one of the most accessible shore diving experiences in the region. The bay features a gentle slope of coral reef, seagrass beds, and volcanic sand descending from 2 meters to approximately 18 meters, creating a diverse underwater landscape that supports a fascinating variety of marine life. The site is particularly known for its macro critters, including blue-ringed octopus hiding among the coral rubble, colorful mantis shrimp patrolling the sand channels, and seagrass ghost pipefish swaying in the gentle current. The sheltered geography of the bay provides protection from the prevailing swells, making it diveable in conditions that would close other sites along the coast. Medana Bay is one of the few shore-accessible dive sites in Lombok, with a short swim from the beach bringing divers directly onto the reef. The site is also popular for night diving, when the seagrass beds and coral reef transform with the emergence of hunting octopus, squid, bioluminescent organisms, and nocturnal crustaceans. The mix of habitats, from coral bommies to seagrass meadows to volcanic sand slopes, ensures that each dive offers something different. Medana Bay is also a favored training site for local dive operators, with its easy access, gentle slopes, and reliable conditions making it ideal for Open Water courses and check-out dives.