Batfish Point

Batfish Point sits at the northern tip of Gili Air and centres on three coral pinnacles rising from a sandy bottom at around 28 m. The pinnacles are encrusted with a diverse mix of hard and soft corals and support some of the largest fish populations in the immediate Gili Air area. The site takes its name from the resident schools of pinnate and longfin batfish that hover near the tops of the bommies — often in groups of 20 or more — giving the site a distinctive character and making it a favourite for wide-angle underwater photographers.

Alongside the batfish, schools of snapper and fusiliers circle the pinnacles throughout the dive. Pufferfish patrol the reef flat, and scorpionfish blend into the rubble at the base of the structures. Whitetip reef sharks and the occasional trevally sweep through, drawn by the baitfish concentration. Turtles are frequently spotted resting on the larger coral heads. Macro subjects reward careful searching: crevices between the pinnacles hide cleaner shrimps, nudibranchs, and the colourful subject matter that makes this site popular with macro photographers as well.

Current at Batfish Point can vary from calm to moderate. Conditions are generally best during the dry season (April–November) when visibility reaches 15–25 m. The site suits Open Water divers and above on calm days; a good awareness of buoyancy around the pinnacle formations is important to protect the coral.

Diver tips: Spend time hovering in the water column above the three pinnacles — this is where the batfish schools are most dense. The sandy gullies between the structures are worth exploring for stingrays and garden eels. A split-level dive is possible: work the pinnacle tops at 5–12 m before descending to the base at 28 m to catch any passing reef sharks. Maximum depth is 28 m so this site can be used for PADI/SSI Deep Adventure Dives.