The most famous resident of all is the Mola mola Nusa Lembongan. People travel all over the world to see this strange fish. Many do not believe that it exists until they see it with their own eyes! Luckily, our waters are the best place to spot Mola mola in the entire world.
They can be seen most often from July to October. Come diving with us and discover this peculiar animal! The Mola Mola of Nusa Lembongan. The Mola mola, part of the Ocean sunfish family, is often mistaken as the most common sunfish species in our waters. However, you’re more likely to encounter the Mola alexandrini, also called the Bumphead sunfish. Other species of sunfish can occasionally be spotted, and while the Common sunfish (Mola mola) has been sighted here a few times, it remains less common.
These colossal creatures are the largest bony fish in the world, reaching over 4 meters in height, 3 meters in length, and weighing more than 2000 kilograms. Divers from across the globe dream of encountering them. On average, sunfish live around 20 years. Amazingly, when they hatch, they’re just 2mm long! They grow rapidly, with some individuals gaining up to 364 kilograms in just 14 months. Their diet is diverse, including squid, eelgrass, crustaceans, fish, sponges, jellyfish, and eels. As they age, they shift to consuming more gelatinous zooplankton and jellyfish.
Furthermore, they come in a range of gray and white colors. Some have polka-dotted patterns and sheens. Thus, their coloration can depend on regions. The Sunfish in Bali are usually darker than those in Southern California. Additionally, they are able to change colors when under stress, turning from light to dark.
The reason why our waters are such a great place to spot Sunfish is because of our thermoclines. That is when warm water suddenly shifts to much colder water. The warm water layers itself on top of the cold water without mixing. The cold swells come from seasonal upwelling from the Indian Ocean. That means that water temperatures can dip to as low as 16 Celcius! However, the good thing is that Mola is attracted to this. Time to squeeze into those thick wetsuits! The Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area is proud to be one of the only places in the world to see these creatures consistently. They reside here year-round, and if you are lucky, you may spot them sunbathing! That is where the term “sunfish” comes from! Nevertheless, they are most often spotted from 20-40m. This means that you should get your Advanced Open Water and Deep Specialty to have the best chance of seeing them.
The best dive site to see Mola is Crystal Bay. There are several cleaning stations here. It is crucial for the Mola to be cleaned as they are very susceptible to parasites. You will likely see fish such as the Longfin bannerfish and Emperor angelfish nibbling at the Sunfish. Moreover, our waters are the only place in the world where you can see Emperor angelfish cleaning the Mola. It is truly unique to see these beautifully patterned fish circle the large sunfish.
Why You’d Love to Meet Them
Fascinated by Mola Mola? Dive into their world and uncover exciting facts about these gentle giants
Sunfishes can be found in most oceans all over the world. However, their size is usually rather small and it will not be easy to localize their cleaning station. While here in the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area, scientific studies run for many years and we know exactly when and where to find them.
Born smaller than kangaroo joeys
The baby ocean fish do not get larger than a grain of rice. As larvae, they’ll measure 0,25cm but will undergo an incredible 60 million-fold increase in mass and grow to an impressive length of 3 meters in their adulthood. _Source: Gudger (1936), as cited in Pope et al. (2010), described it as a truly colossal fish
A colossal fish Being the heaviest bony fish species on earth, Ocean sunfish can hugely grow. The record is held by a Mola alexandrini, also known as the Bumphead sunfish with 3.1m from the snout tip to the the caudal fin and 4.26m from the dorsal fin to the tip of the anal fin, this enormous fish was struck by a boat off Sydney, in September 1908. _Source: Sawai et al. (2018)
highlighted the remarkably high reproductive potential of the species The Ocean Sunfish holds another record here by producing an astonishing approximate count of 300 million eggs. This immense number of eggs was found inside the ovary of a 1.37m female. _Source: Schmidt (1921)
Conservation Efforts and Responsible Conduct
Guidelines for Diving with Mola Mola in Bali
For those interested in conservation, we provide a 3,5 days program focused on the marine megafauna of the Nusa Penida Marine Sanctuary. Throughout this training, you will seek to gather data, track populations, and promote the protection of these legendary creatures. Through a partnership with the citizen science initiative known as Match My Mola, individuals have the opportunity to contribute images of sunfish, thereby enhancing the tracking and comprehension of the migratory patterns exhibited by these animals.
Do not touch any marine life or anything when scuba diving. If a Mola Mola approaches you, stay still and make sure not to touch them!
Approach Molas slowly and in their field of vision. Do not make splashes in the water and never surround them.
This set of guidelines has been carefully crafted to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience when diving with Molas. Simultaneously, our priority is to ensure the well-being and safety of the resident wildlife. The primary goal is to allow the Molas to remain undisturbed at cleaning stations, as it is vital for them to rid themselves of parasites in these areas. Once they settle, they tend to stay for extended periods, creating an even more rewarding diving experience. Click HERE to download the guideline.
For more details on how we can protect the reef and improve our interactions with underwater marine life, click [HERE]. This informative video, created by the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area, emphasizes treating our oceans with the care and respect they deserve.
• Refrain from approaching the cleaning station. When the cleaning fish is disturbed, the station becomes damaged, and Molas may not return.
• Keep at least 3 meters between yourself and the closest Mola Mola.
• When they are not cleaning or nearing the reef, maintain a distance of at least 10 meters.
• Do not be closer to the Mola than your guide.
• Do not go directly behind the Mola. They will interpret this as predatory behavior.
• Ensure you do not position yourself directly below or above the Mola Mola, as this can disturb them. However, if they happen to swim above you, try to minimize the bubbles you release
• ensure you do not block their escape routes
• Never use diver propulsion vehicles or any other loud gadgets around them.
• Follow your dive guide!
• Be careful around the coral and maintain good buoyancy.
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