Gili Tepekong Dive Site
The Gili Tepekong Dive Site of Bali.
Diving Gili Tepekong
By Erwin Kodiat
Do not expect beautiful coral reef here in Gili Tepekong ! That is the message I got when first reading a book about diving Tepekong. So what makes so many adrenaline junkies divers comes here? Hearing a lot about Gili Tepekong dive site bad reputation like toilet drift and strong current, I would like to know about this site more and find out why despite of the dangerous still there are many divers come here.
We dive Tepekong! Our first impression is it is not like another tropical dive sites, especially the Canyon, which is situated in the southern area of the island. I can not describe what it looks like, you have to dive it on your own. Shortly speaking, this is a dive site with mystique things. You feel like doing meditation. It is like watching the sunset in a quiet place. Lucky us, at that time neither current nor cold water accompanies us. It was November the beginning of southwest monsoon that is considered as the best time to dive these sites. The visibility here on average can reach 20 meters. The temperature is 26 degree of Celsius but often under 20 degree of Celsius.
In around 21 meters depth you will find a hole that connect east side of the island to the west side, you should try entering it. When I entered the hole and found the end, all I saw is blue water which group of ribbon sweet lips (Plectorhinchus polytaenia) and diagonal banded sweet lips (Plectorhinchus lineatus). It was really beautiful and mystic.