e been itching to write about this because this is one of the most memorable things that has ever happened to us in our entire lives and I’m not even talking about the manta ray encounter. lol.
What I’m talking about is what we have endured on our way to Nusa Lembongan and to the Manta Ray point. I’d say it’s very unexpected and a very traumatic experience for me and Ron.
Now, you might wondering what I’m blabbering about and what exactly happened.
April to October is Bali’s summer season, and since we went there in July, we were excited to enjoy the beaches and, of course, finally encounter the manta rays. Well, who wouldn’t be, right? I think it’s every ocean lover’s dream – especially for someone like me who wants to experience freediving with as many sea creatures as possible.
I was supposed to be scheduled for a manta ray encounter with an underwater photographer from Bali on August 1. However, since the forecast said that the date would have bad weather and big swells, we had to rebook for an earlier date. So July 28 came, and I was so excited and praying for good weather and calm seas.
I even asked my videographer beforehand how the waves were at the manta ray point, and she said they might reach 1 meter. As someone who has dived in bad weather and experienced rough seas before, I thought it would be okay. But oh boy, I was effin’ wrong.
Now as you can see from the images above, the weather that morning wasn’t really great. Did we have any other choice that day? No, because there were no other available days to visit the manta rays except that one. Also, I became an anxious traveler because Ron isn’t a swimmer and has a fear of bodies of water – he really had no choice because I’m an ocean child lol
Anyhow, we meet up with my videographer in Sanur port and bought a ticket to Nusa Lembongan, where their headquarter is.
We took a big speedboat, and just as we left the port, a huge 3-meter wave hit us. Everyone screamed in terror – even the locals, especially my guide. She eventually said she had never experienced anything like that before, so I was just like, “WTF?”
I’ve never experienced waves that big in the Philippines. I’ve had my fair share of similar situations before, like being caught in a typhoon in the middle of the ocean and needing to be rescued, but nothing as intense as what I experienced that day. Call me overreacting but you can actually search “bali boat accidents” and you’ll see what I’m talking about. I regret not searching for it before the trip but who expects it when it’s a summer season there that time *rolling eyes*
Also, the problem with Bali is that they don’t take safety very seriously. Compared to the Philippines, if they know it’s not safe to travel by boat, they’ll cancel the trip or at least give you a life jacket if the conditions are still manageable. But in Bali? None of that!
We still continued even if we are hit by 2-3 meter high waves, and I was praying the entire trip that it will be safe because Ron is my responsibility if something happens that day. It was really traumatic but thank God, we arrived safely in Nusa Lembongan. So this is the view of Nusa Lembongan port.
From Nusa Lembongan, we still need to go to Manta Ray point by another small speedboat. Ron just waited in Nusa Lembongan headquarters because he was really terrified after the traumatic experience and I respected that although I want him to join us.
It was very calm when we started our trip to the Manta Ray point with the rest of the tourists since it was a joiner’s trip. We went to a Coral reef first, where the current was very strong, and all we had to do was go with the flow.
Next stop is the Crystal Bay Dive site, with very cold waters that I’ve never experienced before, and dive with some turtles. I wasn’t able to focus on diving because it was really cold and I wasn’t expecting it. Take note, that Philippines has warm waters that’s why most of the foreigners love it here. Also, the reason why it’s cold here, often dropping to 18°C–20°C, is because of the water flow from the Indian Ocean.
During my Crystal Bay short dive, we found some few turtles and took some videos/photos.
Then next is the Manta Ray point and I’m so excited to meet them. I thought the hellish big tsunami-like waves is over but boy, I’m wrong. From 2-3 meters high waves to idk-how-high waves that I need to endure to reach Manta Ray point.
It felt like we were surfing tsunami waves just to get there. My body went completely numb at that time, and it felt like my brain stopped working because of the huge waves. It was my first time experiencing something like that! Good thing Ron didn’t come with us, or he might’ve fainted or even had a heart attack. I’m not even joking.
For you to have an idea why there were so BIG waves, this is where we went.
Just look at how open the ocean is, which explains the big waves during the bad weather. *rolls eyes*
My guide even told me that the Manta Rays might not be there because of the strong big waves and I just don’t care that time. I just want to come home alive lol.
But good thing they’re there! So, we’re still lucky! Look at how majestic they are!
It’s so hard to dive to be honest because the current is so strong and the waves are so big so I can’t properly relax, which explains why I don’t have enough videos. There were also good dives that were not taken by my videographer so meeeh.
Anyhow, I did enjoy it although it was terrifying at the same time.
When I was back in Nusa Lembongan, I told Ron how big the waves are on the way to Manta Ray point compared to what we have experienced earlier and how thankful I am that he didn’t come along with us lol.
Now, it was time to head back to Sanur Port, and honestly, the waves didn’t seem that scary anymore, well, at least for me. I had already experienced much bigger waves earlier, so I just slept on the way back while Ron was holding on for dear life.
When we arrived at Sanur Port, we had to take an obligatory photo as a remembrance of our life-and-death experience.
So, will we be coming back for proper underwater manta ray shots? Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows?
