Padang Bai offers splendid underwater world

Pariama Hutasoit, Contributor, Karang Asem, East Bali

For divers, Padang Bai is a hidden and unexplored paradise.

Serving as a transit port for the Bali-Lombok shipping route, Padang Bai is quite a busy place despite being located far from the glittering beaches of Kuta and Nusa Dua, the island's most opulent surf spots.

Located about 70 kilometers east of Denpasar, it takes about 90 minutes to drive to Padang Bai from the provincial capital. Though it boasts no star-rated hotels, a line of modest restaurants and motels can be found near the Padang Bai seaport.

A number of dive operators in Bali have their eyes on several sites in Padang Bai as potential diving and snorkeling spots. These include the Blue Lagoon, probably named after the Brooke Shields movie of the same name, and Pura Jepun (Frangipani Temple).

"The condition of marine species, including coral reefs, in the waters of Padang Bai are quite good compared to other dive spots on the island," said Akira Ogawa, a dive instructor at Dive and Dive's, after conducting a reef check in Padang Bai's waters.

Padang Bai boasts a large variety of fish, including the white shark, manta ray, sweetlip and sunfish, though their numbers may be dropping.

"Two years ago, I could still see at least 10 white sharks while diving at Padang Bai. Now I am lucky to see one or two white sharks," Akira said.

Akira is confused by the apparent diminishing number of fish, since using bombs to fish is unusual in the area. He assumes a lack of food has forced many fish away.

Preserving underwater life is vital when trying to develop underwater and marine tourism.

"People want to dive because they are eager to explore and to study the richness of the underwater life," said Magdalena, a diver.

Unfortunately, excessive fishing and unwise marine tourism development projects have destroyed coral reefs and marine ecosystems in Bali.

Coral reefs in some places like Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Lembongan, Sanur and Nusa Dua were destroyed for various tourist-related projects.

Erdi Lazuardi, an employee at the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), said his organization frequently performed reef checks in several areas of Bali to monitor the condition of coral reefs and other marine resources.

"We expect fishermen and divers to actively take part in the preservation of coral reefs and underwater life. Those are our precious natural assets," Erdi said.

When coral reefs are destroyed, Bali's beaches lose their white sand and marine creatures will disappear from Bali's waters.

"Who will visit Bali if we don't have wonderful and well- preserved marine resources?" Erdi asked.

Ketut Muliartha, a fisherman in Padang Bai, said he and several other fishermen in the area had set up a special forum to protect the marine ecosystem.

"We have made our own regulations which must be abided by all 80 members," he said.

The regulations include establishing prohibited fishing areas. "We are not allowed to fish in certain places where coral reefs and protected species are found," the fisherman said.

He said the regulations were used to regularly monitor fishing activities in the area and to protect the entire marine ecosystem.

"It is expected that everyone with a stake in the matter -- divers, fishermen, tour operators and the government, are aware of the need to maintain the sustainability our of marine resources," said Erdi.

Unfortunately, only a few people seem to have responded to this appeal, and Bali is fearful of a time when all of its marine assets are gone forever.