Perfect tropical island to snorkel, but sadly no fish.

I finally found the perfect place to go snorkelling if your goal is not to be distracted by fish… (anyone who knows me, knows that’s so far from the truth)

In Bali, staying on the beautiful island of Nusa Lembongan. At high tide, mask & snorkel in hand, I headed into the water. Crystal clear visibility, warm sea… and not a single fish in sight.

But at low tide, the story became a little clearer.

(My observations and thoughts)

Along the north-west of the island, you can still see the wooden fishing posts left behind by generations of fishermen. These waters must once have supported thriving fish populations, with families relying on them every day. Today, fishing appears to have declined significantly, with activity mainly concentrated around the northern tip of the island.

Looking out across the lagoon, the reason is hard to ignore. The turquoise water is beautiful, but there are no dark patches, no shadows of healthy reef or even algae, just sand and dead coral rubble. Without a habitat, there’s very little to support marine life.

On the north-east side of the island, it’s different. The mangrove forests provide a vital nursery for juvenile fish and countless other marine species, and it’s encouraging to see protected areas helping to safeguard these ecosystems.

It left me wondering… (as I lay on a sunlounger drinking a Bintang)

Is there an appetite to restore fish populations to this side of the island? Or has tourism and development changed the coastline too much for that to ever become a priority?

Habitat restoration isn’t just about bringing back coral. It’s about rebuilding the foundations of an ecosystem so that marine life has somewhere to live, feed and reproduce.

I’d love to know if anyone has been involved in restoration work around Nusa Lembongan, or if there are plans for this area that I haven’t come across.

Sometimes, seeing nothing underwater can be just as thought-provoking as seeing everything.