In Reply to: gili? posted by lesliey on Tuesday, 30. November 2004 at 23:15 Bali Time:
Kerry had one dive from Gili Trawangan (it was actually off Gili Meno - a spot called the Meno Wall)and wasn't overly impressed. In contrast the snorkelling was wonderful - especially for a scaredy like me as it was straight off the beach. The coral is not wonderful here - much has been damaged in the past and regrowth is slow (but it is definitely happening)- but the real attraction is the fish varieties - and especially the turtles.
I guess how good the snorkelling is anywhere is VERY subjective - depending on where else you have done it, what your interests are etc - but without doubt the coral is far and away better at Menjangan (but bear in mind it is about an hour away by boat from Pemuteran)
The place that really amazed him for coral was the area close in front to where we stayed at Candi Dasa - mostly because there is no fanfare for it at all and it is all natural regrowth after the horrors of years gone by "harvesting" the coral for construction purposes.
It is mostly staghorn and again is easily accessible off the beach
If you go back to my previous JBR's - check the Nov archives - there is one giving a pretty detailed account of our time on Gili Trawangan (and another couple on CD).It is hard to say which was better between Gili T and Pemuteran/Menjangan because they were quite different - Gili T was probably more attractive overall, and the infrastructure is more limited at Pemuteran but the diving from here was more varied and definitely better. Snorkelling for me was pretty similar if I'm honest. Gili T is of course a bit more complicated to get to as you have to get to Lombok first (plane or ferry) then to the islands - whereas Pemuteran is only a drive away - albeit a fair way from most places. If you go from Ubud try to take the route that turns left after the Bedugul area, alongside the two Lakes (sorry brain fade - one begins with B the other with T) and then down through Munduk - we did it in reverse and went back to Tuban that way - the scenery is stunning - and going 'downhill' with glimpses of the coast as you descend would I'm sure be brilliant
I'm fairly sure we'll be going back to both - but if we could only pick one I think it would be a very hard decision to make!!
Hope this helps