Mola mola season

The oceanic sunfish, or mola mola, is one of the strangest fish in the sea: huge, flat, almost round, with a fin on top and a fin below. It spends most of its life in deep, cold water. Around Nusa Penida, it comes up to the reef to be cleaned of parasites by small fish, and that is when divers can see it.

When

The main season is the cooler months, roughly July to October. That's when cold water rises from the deep around Penida, and the molas follow it up towards the reef. Sightings at other times are possible but rarer, and even in season nothing is guaranteed.

Where and how deep

Molas are usually seen on dives along Penida's southern and eastern reefs, often deeper than beginners go. Many dive schools on Lembongan run trips in season and will tell you which sites suit your experience. It's mainly a diving encounter: snorkellers rarely see them.

Cold water

The same upwelling that brings the molas brings cold water, sometimes in sudden layers you can feel during a dive. A thicker wetsuit and a hood make the difference between enjoying the dive and counting the minutes.

Being a good guest

Molas are easily disturbed at cleaning stations. Keep your distance, stay low and still, never chase or touch them, and don't crowd around with other divers. If they leave, the encounter is over, for everyone.

More on diving from Lembongan, and the seasons through the year.