Batu Bolong

Batu Bolong is a dramatic pinnacle dive centered on a near-surface rocky pinnacle with a large arch at the top. The summit and upper slopes are covered in hard and soft corals with sponges and gorgonians on steep walls and ledges, creating a "fish soup" environment of terraces and gullies that attract huge schools and big predators. Marine life is exceptionally rich, with frequent sightings of large schools of fusiliers, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, Napoleon wrasse, hawksbill and green turtles, and resting white-tip reef sharks along the slopes. Dives are typically conducted from a dive boat with no shore access. Typical recreational depths are about 5-30 m (many dives around 20 m on the protected side), while the pinnacle base extends to about 70-90 m. Water temperatures are roughly 24-29 °C and visibility is often 15-30 m. Strong tidal currents sweep the strait, so dives are planned for slack or ebb tide; entry is on the sheltered (lee) side, descending into the safe zone between current lines and zigzagging along the reef and walls. There are no overhead environments or wrecks. The main hazard is powerful current, so divers must follow their guide closely, maintain buoyancy and stay on the reef; the site is generally recommended for advanced or experienced divers. Best visibility tends to be during the dry season (roughly April-November), though diving is possible year-round.