Scuba Diving South Lombok
Hi all, as I've been living and diving in South Lombok for 7 years now, I've read numerous articles, blogs, and forum posts about our region and many people think South Lombok is only for the "rough and ready" adventure diver, so I feel the need to clear up a few misconceptions about the south coast of Lombok.
South Lombok, in general, presents itself as a relaxed place (some people compare it to Bali 20 years ago), and travelers of all interests (not only divers) can find a very tropical and enjoyable region to visit. One will find beautiful white sandy beaches, simple to more luxurious accommodations, friendly locals, and lots of nature and relaxation.
There are 3 unique regions in the south of Lombok, Sekotong, Belongas Bay, and Kuta Bay:
Sekotong is a tropical little place with not much topside activity other than maybe renting a motorbike and exploring the coastline, snorkeling, swimming, or of course scuba diving. It's quite perfect for couples and families who just want to relax and enjoy. There isn't much touristic infrastructure (although it's developing fairly quickly), but most accommodations have an adjacent restaurant so no one will need to go hungry (or thirsty). The scuba diving it's relaxed, colorful reef diving at very intact reefs and lots of macro life can be found.
Belongas Bay, the place where the misconceptions actually come from, is truly only for the more adventures traveler and diver. The region is basically in the middle of nowhere, and the locals don't see very much tourism there. So don't be surprised if you are approached in a quite curios manner, for some this might even feel a little disturbing. The diving around this region can prove to be very challenging (especially during the dry season from July till October), but also can be very rewarding in a sense of pelagic life. Most certainly I would only recommend diving there only to the experienced diver.
Kuta Bay is comparable to Sekotong (from the diving aspect), but offers more infrastructure and topside possibilities such as, cafes, restaurants, and accommodations. The diving there is well suited for all levels of experience, and the dive shops there also have pool facilities etc. available for all levels of courses. But it should be mentioned that Kuta is best for diving during the rainy season (November till April), as during the dry season it's subject to wind and waves (hence the time surfers love the place).
There are 2 or 3 dive shops located in South Lombok, and I'm sure they'll be happy to give you some more detailed info about the general conditions for the particular regions.
Hope you guys come and visit, and have a great day;)