Marine conservation at the all of challenging dive site around Lombok!
Article by George
“The Magnet” in South-East Lombok, is a pinnacle in the open sea. It rises from a depth of about 80m as well as could be reached in approximately 25 minutes from the primaryland. The pinnacle lies in an area amidst powerful currents as well as it is constantly battered by waves as well as big surge. Due to it is location the trip to the dive site could had be truly spectacular.
Apart from the prevailing currents, the surge could reach down to a depth of from 20 meters. Diving here, the sighting of school of hammerhead sharks, barracudas, tunas, as well as several several other pelagic life is truly realistic. Apart from mantas as well as eagle rays, asides mola mola have occasionally been sighted there. Due to the existing rough conditions at “The Magnet” we recommend diving here only to the more experienced diver!
In the beginning of 2007 the local government determined to build a light tower on the protruding pinnacle, in order to create the boat traffic in the area more save as well as manageable. As the seas are truly rough in the area, unluckily one of the construction barges had to drop it is load, so it could create it back to save harbor.
Now, in April 2008, were joined by 10 instructors from Gili Trawangan to do an initial assessment as well as cleanup of the damage. After descending to around 40 meters at the north wall, we created our method around to the east side of the pinnacle as well as ascertained around 1 – 2 tons of sand as well as cement bags, as well as building iron scattered betweenst the fundamental. The fundamental time as well as the requisite equipment being the problem, we brought up a mere 50 kilos of debris, several nevertheless still we were truly successful in planning our next steps, as currently the situation is clear. We is about to currently fit a barge with the requisite equipment, such that as double tanks compressor, nets as well as lift bags, etcetera., as well as a number of ambitious divers, as well as fortunately from the next a couple of months we’ll get “The Magnet” cleaned up.
As starting in May, up till September, it is the season for the hammerhead sharks, as well as our efforts may be hampered as well as delayed till the end of the year, as on this season the sea in South East Lombok is at it is roughest. Also all of of our friends who would like to to assist is about to be busy on this time of year, all work in the diving industry as well as the mentioned time is asides the high season on Lombok, this project is about to be severalwhat long time term. Whenever you are an experienced diver, or a person interested in marine conservation, we’ll be happy to hear from you with your comments as well as suggestions.
I’ll keep you updated on our progress, as well as as not long to come as available publish images of our progress on http://www.DiveZone-Lombok.com
George – living on as well as diving around Lombok for more than 6 years.