Holiday Ayo - Menjangan Island is a beautiful patch of unspoiled wilderness on the northwestern tip of Bali and also part of the West Bali National Park.

Menjangan’s beautiful and unspoiled marine landscapes make it a popular spot among divers and snorkelers. Creatures that inhabit the waters around the island include hawksbill turtles, garden eels, and manta rays. On dry land, the island is home to a herd of deer – the island’s name translates as ‘Deer Island’. Menjangan is easily accessible from the northwest coast of Bali – a journey of around 40 minutes by speedboat from Pemutaran/Labuhan Lalang

“Menjangan” means “deer,” and that’s exactly what you’ll find on the island, along with snakes and plenty of bird species.

Menjangan Island also the hottest, most arid spot in all of Bali.

Menjangan is known for its wall diving, though even as a snorkeler, you can glide around the edge of walls and see schools of tiny reef fish, darting around the information.

Menjangan Island is one of the best and most popular places in Bali to snorkel and dive. The island is reachable by boat from Labuhan Lalang on the northwest coast of mainland Bali. There are no hotels on the island itself, but several on the mainland nearby.

But La Bella Dive, on the main road of Pemuteran, offers guided half-day snorkel trips for IDR500,000 (about USD35).

If you’re lucky, you’ll get to spend the day with a smiley Balinese snorkel guide named Mr. Nengah. He’s also a qualified dive instructor, so he’s a hotshot with the local marine and coral species, and can tell you how to avoid being stung, bitten, or pursued by an angry tiger fish.

Trumpetfish, clownfish (now more popularly known as “Nemo”), eels, and electric blue tangs are among the most common sightings. Nengah says he’s seen whale sharks on occasion.

As information, for a half-day dive package, including a dive guide, boat, lunch, mineral water, and all equipment, is available at La Bella Dive for IDR 950.000 (about USD 67) per person.