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Eel Gardens

📍 Bali, Indonesia

Darkspotted Sole (Liachirus melanospilos) — recorded at Eel Gardens

Eel Gardens is a dive site in Bali, Indonesia. Currents typically run at 0.8 km/h and reach 1.4 km/h on the strongest days. Water temperatures range from 28°C in August to 30°C in November. The typical daily tidal range is about 1.2 m. Species recorded in the area include Ocellaris Anemonefish, Darkspotted Sole, Rectangular False Cockle, Hawksbill Sea Turtle and Golden Spadefish.

Dive Conditions

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Current
0.8 km/h (1.4)
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Water Temp
28–30 °C

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Typical Current 0.8 km/h (up to 1.4)
Water Temperature 28–30 °C
Tidal Range 1.2 m (typical daily)
GPS -8.0959°, 114.5658°

Data sources: currents and water temperature from Open-Meteo Marine (CC BY 4.0), hourly model values 2024. Tidal range is the median daily range of modelled sea level from Open-Meteo Marine, hourly values 2024. Species observations from iNaturalist, checked against the World Register of Marine Species.

Conditions at Eel Gardens through the year

Sea surface temperature at the site coordinates, averaged per month from hourly model values for 2024. The water is warmest in November at about 30 °C and coolest in August at about 28 °C, a spread of 2.2 degrees across the year.

Monthly sea surface temperature at Eel Gardens (°C)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
29.5 29.5 29.7 30.2 30.0 29.3 28.7 28.2 28.4 29.4 30.4 30.2

Ocean current at the site runs at a typical 0.8 km/h. In the strongest tenth of the hours modelled for 2024 it reaches 1.4 km/h, which is when entries are normally timed to slack water at the turn of the tide.

The tide moves the water level by a median 1.2 m over a day, and by up to 1.8 m on the largest days of the month. That range drives how much water is exchanged over the reef and when the current turns.

Offshore wave statistics are not shown for Eel Gardens: within 10 km of the site there is land in the directions from which 91 % of the waves in the area arrive, so open-sea values would overstate the swell at the site itself.

How Eel Gardens compares

These comparisons use only the measured values above, set against the 376 dive sites published on findadive.com. A percentage shows the share of other sites with a lower (or higher) value, so it reads the same way wherever the site is.

Eel Gardens compared with all listed sites and with Bali
MeasureThis siteCompared with all sitesMedian in Bali
Mean water temperature29.5 °Cwarmer than 56 % of the other 375 sites29.1 °C (99 sites)
Water temperature in the coolest month28.2 °Cwarmer than 55 % of the other 375 sites27.8 °C (99 sites)
Typical current0.8 km/hweaker than 73 % of the other 375 sites3.2 km/h (99 sites)
Current in the strongest 10 % of hours1.4 km/hweaker than 77 % of the other 375 sites5.7 km/h (99 sites)
Median daily tidal range1.2 msmaller than 81 % of the other 375 sites1.5 m (99 sites)

Water temperature, current and tide from Open-Meteo Marine (CC BY 4.0), hourly model values for 2024 at -8.0959°, 114.5658°. Wave statistics from ERA5-Ocean via Open-Meteo Marine (contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2015–2024), daily maximum wave height on a 0.5° grid; land shelter tested against Natural Earth coastlines.

Marine life recorded at this site

Research-grade observations from iNaturalist within about 12 km of these coordinates.

Ocellaris Anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
Ocellaris Anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris A small orange damselfish with three white bars, living among the tentacles of host anemones, which it rarely leaves.to 11 cm · 1-15 m · by dayhost anemones on sheltered reefApproach the anemone slowly and wait; the fish returns within seconds and will circle back to the same spot. (c) Petr Knotek, some rights reserved (CC BY) · observation
Darkspotted Sole (Liachirus melanospilos)
Darkspotted Sole Liachirus melanospilos A flat, oval-shaped bottom-dwelling fish with a dark-spotted upper side and a pale underside, often partially buried in sediment.to 15 cm · 1-30 m · at nightsandy or muddy seabed, near seagrass or rubbleLook for a faint outline or the eyes on the sediment; it flushes easily, so a torch held at a low angle helps. (c) portioid, some rights reserved (CC BY) · observation
Rectangular False Cockle (Cardita variegata)
Rectangular False Cockle Cardita variegata A small, rectangular bivalve with a thick, sculptured shell, often found nestled in crevices or attached to hard substrates.to 3 cm · 0-30 m · day and nightcrevices and under rocks on reefsLook for its distinctive shape and radiating ribs on the underside of coral rubble or in small holes. (c) River Ahlquist, some rights reserved (CC BY) · observation
Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Hawksbill Sea Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata A sea turtle with a distinctive pointed beak and overlapping scutes on its carapace, often seen grazing on sponges.to 1 m · 0-30 m · day and nightcoral reefs and rocky areasObserve from a distance; it may surface to breathe and then return to feed on the reef. (c) Bernard DUPONT, some rights reserved (CC BY) · observation
Golden Spadefish (Platax boersii)
Golden Spadefish Platax boersii A tall, disc-shaped fish with a golden-yellow body and a dark vertical bar through the eye. Juveniles are darker with long, trailing dorsal and anal fins.to 50 cm · 5-30 m · by daycoral-rich slopes and drop-offs, often near caves or overhangsOften seen in small groups hovering motionless; approach slowly to avoid startling them. (c) Sockrosma, some rights reserved (CC BY) · observation
Giant Moray (Gymnothorax javanicus)
Giant Moray Gymnothorax javanicus A large, heavy-bodied moray eel with a mottled brown and yellow pattern, often seen with its head protruding from a crevice.to 3 m · 1-50 m · at nightreef crevices and caves, often on outer slopesLook for its head in holes; it often rests with its mouth open, revealing its teeth, but this is normal respiration. (c) Sockrosma, some rights reserved (CC BY) · observation
Striped Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus)
Striped Surgeonfish Acanthurus lineatus A brightly striped surgeonfish with alternating blue and yellow horizontal lines on the body and a sharp, retractable spine near the tail.to 38 cm · 1-15 m · by dayshallow, turbulent surge zones on outer reef crestsOften seen in small groups grazing on algae; the tail spine is a defensive weapon, so avoid approaching too closely from behind. (c) Petr Knotek, some rights reserved (CC BY) · observation
Spotted Porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix)
Spotted Porcupinefish Diodon hystrix A large, pale porcupinefish covered in black spots and long, sharp spines that lie flat until the fish inflates.to 91 cm · 3-50 m · at nightreef flats, lagoons, and seaward slopesOften seen resting motionless by day under ledges or in caves; at night it forages on the reef. (c) Sockrosma, some rights reserved (CC BY) · observation