Seraya Secrets is one of the most famous critter diving sites in Bali. With dark volcanic sand covering the bottom, this series of sites is perfect for underwater photography. Often on the list as one of the sites that our guests want to dive, Seraya Secrets is a very productive dive site. What makes this dive so popular? Let’s delve into it.
With the advent of digital in the early 2000s, underwater photography entered a renaissance. The ease of digital technology, along with the small size of compact cameras, makes underwater photography a breeze. Around the same time, the small dive resort Scuba Seraya opened it’s doors to divers. For many visitors the coral reefs and the USAT Liberty Wreck were the main attraction. However, the black sand house reef, “Seraya Secrets”, became the go to afternoon site. With sharp eyed guides, divers constantly photographed a bucket list of top critters. Due to many of these photographs being published, the Tulamben area soon grew a reputation as a top macro area to rival the Lembeh Strait.
Seraya Secrets is located in the North East of Bali, very near to the town of Tulamben. For those familiar with the area, the site is located a kilometre past the large bridge on the main road. The site can be accessed via a small dirt road leading directly to the beach. The local families who own the land have set up a great prep area including rinse tanks and a toilet. The whole extended family pitches in to load and unload tanks and equipment. The entry is directly beside the Scuba Seraya Resort and typically two dives are done here. The entry is easy enough with a walk over small rocks into a gentle slope.
The diving here is classic Bali macro diving. The topography is a gentle slope of black sand with a ridge and valley terrain. The valleys are mainly featureless plains of sand, while the ridges are home to corals and sponges. A guide with an “eagle eye” is the secret to finding all of the best critters here. Common animal encounters include harlequin shrimp, ornate ghost pipefish, pygmy seahorses, and a plethora of nudibranchs. Larger animals include resident leopard morays, lionfish, and the occasional seahorse. It’s easy to spend a long time in the shallows looking for leaf fish, schooling catfish, and skeleton shrimp. Its one of the most rewarding sites in Bali for photographers. This is also one of the best sites to encounter the elusive boxer crab!
We dive Seraya Secrets on all of our trips in the Tulamben area. If you would like to dive with us there please have a look at one of our Safari packages. We look forward to hearing from you soon!