Batu Kelebit · Tulamben

The story

Out where the current lives.

While Tulamben Bay is sheltered and current-free, the reef five kilometres north sits exposed to the Lombok Strait — and that means current, drift, and bigger fish. Batu Kelebit ("Kelebit Rock") is the most popular of these outer sites: a 10-minute jukung ride from the village, then a negative entry onto a coral slope.

The drift carries you along — usually gently, sometimes briskly — past fusilier schools, jack swarms, and the occasional whitetip reef shark patrolling the deeper edge. The reef itself is healthy, with hard coral plateaus at 10–18 m and scattered bommies down to 30.

"Tulamben for divers who've done Tulamben."

AOWD recommended — current and depth combine to make this an intermediate dive. Pair it with Batu Niti (next site north) for a two-tank boat morning, or with Alam Anda for a beach-and-boat double.

Topography

How the dive unfolds.

Outer-reef drift dive 5 km north of Tulamben. Boat entry, drop along an outer reef shoulder, drift south with the current along a sloping wall from 10 m to 30 m. Schooling fish, occasional pelagics, fewer divers than Tulamben Bay.

Plan a 40-min drift: negative entry from the boat, descend on the reef edge at 12 m, drift south with the current, work down to 30 m mid-dive, ascend back to 18 m for the safety drift, deploy SMB, surface for boat pickup. AOWD recommended.

Marine life · what you might see

The ocean's not a zoo.

Sightings are pure chance — current, season, time of day, and luck. Below is what divers spot at this site, but no operator can guarantee any specific encounter on any specific dive.

Resident Fusilier schools 95%

Resident Schooling jacks 75%

Visitor Whitetip reef sharks 25%

Visitor Tuna · Wahoo 30%

Visitor Napoleon wrasse 35%

Visitor Sea turtles 50%

Resident Bannerfish · Moorish idols 90%

Resident Pyramid butterflyfish 90%

Resident Anthias clouds 85%

Resident Moray eels 75%

Resident Scorpionfish 70%

Resident Nudibranchs 65%

Resident Hard coral plateau 100%

Resident Gorgonian fans 80%

Resident Soft corals 100%

Resident Sponges 100%

Always-presentThe hard coral plateau, fusiliers, butterflyfish, the drift itself.

Sometimes-presentWhitetip reef sharks (about 1 in 4 dives), tuna, jacks, Napoleon wrasse.

Practical

What you need.

01 · Cert

Certification

AOWD recommended (max depth 30 m+). Some current and depth — Open Water divers stay shallower.

02 · Entry

Entry · Distance

Boat dive. ~10 min from Tulamben village by traditional jukung outrigger. Negative entry.

03 · Flow

Currents

Moderate to strong on the outer reef — drift dives common. Always carry an SMB and stay close to your guide.

04 · When

Best time of day

Morning slack tide window (07:00–09:00). Currents pick up after midday — plan accordingly.

05 · Fees

Site fee

Local Tulamben village fee ~30,000 IDR (€2) per diver per day — included in your PMD safari price.

06 · Schedule

Surface intervals

Back to the resort between dives. Two-tank trip standard — outer reef in the morning, sheltered shore site in the afternoon.

Ready?

Dive Batu Kelebit
on a Tulamben safari.

All-inclusive: flights, transfers, villa, dives, food, marine fees. Two-tank Tulamben day with this site as part of the rotation.

Plan Your Trip ← All Tulamben sites