 Challenging world-class scuba diving - “The Magnet”
“The Magnet”, in South-East Lombok, is a pinnacle in the open sea. It rises from a depth of about 80m and can be reached in approximately 25 minutes from the mainland. Diving here, the sighting of schooof hammerhead sharks, barracudas, tunas, and other pelagic life is quite realistic! Apart from mantas and eagle rays, also 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! Minimum Prerequisites for diving the “Magnet” and the “Cathedral” are a advanced certification and, from November until end April, 50 logged dives. From May until end October, 100 logged dives. We reserve the right to ask for a check dive before diving at these dive sites.
After quickly descending to around 40 meters at the north wall, we make our way around to the east side of the pinnacle. Slowly ascending at the east wall, we find a cavernous recess, the so called “shark cave”. Here we see numerous white- and black tip sharks swimming along in and around the mouth of the cave. We continue diving towards the south side of the pinnacle while being accompanied by a large school of mackerels.
As we reach the corner, we see a huge school of yellowfin barracudas standing against the current, and underneath a small group of mobula rays swimming along as if there were no current at all. As we are about to get caught in the current, we turn around and make our way back towards the north side of the pinnacle.
Looking upwards, the impressive shadows of the arriving hammerhead sharks darken the sky. Brought in by the, now quite strong, east current, the school starts cruising around the pinnacle, and we are completely spellbound. Having reached the area where the surge is creating massive down drifts, we swim away from the pinnacle now and start our blue water ascent drifting along in the current.
An impressive and very worthwhile dive!
  
Swell and Wind Forecast for South Lombok!
As the swell and winds are a big influence on the diving conditions, we have integrated the swell charts for Kuta (Lombok) and Dessert Point. Kuta is 1 hour boat ride from Belongas Bay, so also quite accurate for the conditions there, and Dessert Point is the indicator for Sekotong. In general one can say, with a swell 7 ft and smaller, or winds not exeeding 12 mph, the conditions will be quite good.
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