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An Ocean Surprise

After a week up in central Bali, all three of us were ready for some ocean action. We knew we wanted to visit the Komodo National Park, the only place in the world you can see Komodo Dragons in the wild. The best deal on flights was three days after we were planning on leaving Ubud, so we decided to hop on a boat and check out an island just off the southeast coast of Bali called Nusa Lembongan.

I was hoping to get lucky enough to go on a dive and see a Mola Mola (a huge and absurd fish so ridiculous looking that it's hard to believe it even exists) but it wasn't the right season. Lucky for us, it was Manta Ray season!! What a pleasant surprise to learn upon arriving at our hostel.

A hostel with a super nice pool!

We did nothing but lounge, swim, drink gin tonics, and soak up sweet sunshine the first day we arrived and it was glorious.

Day two we signed up for a snorkel trip hoping to see some Manta Rays. Heading out around 8am, nine of us plus a captain cruised around to the other side of the island in search of the enormous graceful ocean dwellers.

We didn't exactly know what was in store for us, but as we turned into a bay, we spotted a few other boats doing slow, large circles around and we joined them.

About five minutes later the captain started yelling "There's one!!! Get in!! GET IN GET IN GET IN!!! RIGHT THERE!!!" Quite startled, we all frantically threw on our masks and fins and plunged into the blue. At first you couldn't see anything but bubbles, as everyone was swimming around wildly, but soon after, we spread ourselves out and caught glimpse of my very first Manta Ray.

The visibility wasn't great in that location, so all we saw initially was the dark silhouette of an giant, using its four meter wingspan to elegantly soar through the sea, unbothered by the flailing humans above.

It was stunning.

We went to a few different locations, seeing five or six all together, before stopping at a couple other places to snorkel the reefs.

And pretend to be mermaids.

Our captain chilled out, chain smoking and fishing while we were entertaining ourselves with the sea.

On our way back to shore, talking excitedly about the Manta Rays and other fish we had just seen, I jokingly/sarcastically said "Alright, where are the dolphins?" They must have heard me, because not five minutes later, a pod of dolphins swam up near our boat, playfully jumping out of the water, putting on a show for us. It was the most beautiful way our snorkel session could have ended.

We were so happy when we got back that we ate ice cream.

Dana clearly doesn't appreciate being messed with while consuming Cornettos, but who does?

Kristina Bair
Current Location: Perth, Australia

I set out on an adventure of living life to the fullest through the things I love: travel, diving, hiking, wellness, culture exchange, and overall happiness (and some debauchery, in moderation of course).

 

I live by three general rules:

   1. Stay safe

   2. Have fun.

   3. Be kind.

 

Life dealt me a damn good hand and I'm all in, all day.

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