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Bali Oceanic Sunfish Interactions - Code of Conduct
The following Code of Conduct or ‘Best Practice’ for recreational divers in Lembongan/Penida, Bali provides information for any person likely to be involved in an encounter with an Ocean Sunfish or Mola mola. The code outlines the environmentally responsible way to approach and interact with sunfish. The code was designed specifically for interactions with sunfish and was established in consultation with leading sunfish experts, scientific researchers, experienced local marine managers, industry representatives and dive guides operating in the area for over 15 years. These guidelines are designed to provide a satisfying and safe diving experience while insuring the lowest sustainable impact on the sunfish population of Bali.

This code includes general information about the biology of the sunfish, the history of sunfish interactions at Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida and guidelines for safe diver and boating behaviour.

Very little is known about the biology or behaviour of ocean sunfish. They inhabit subtropical to temperate pelagic waters worldwide. These passive giants hold the record for being the world’s heaviest bony fish, with total lengths of up to 3m and weights of almost 2000kg. They are quite alien in appearance with a large eye and long anal and dorsal fins with hardly any tail fin. The length of their body is less than twice that of their depth, perhaps explaining why they are sometimes referred to as a “swimming head” or “moon fish”.

Despite their massive proportions ocean sunfish survive on a diet consisting primarily of gelatinous zooplankton or jellyfish, squid, sponges and crustaceans. Mola mola have gritty sandpapery skin covered with copious amounts of mucus. Typically silvery in color with a slight opalescent sheen, they can exhibit strikingly changeable spotty patterns. The size of the sunfish lends it some protection in the open ocean, however they are still vulnerable to fishing by-catch, heavy parasite loads, orcas and sealions.

Mola mola can be sighted off the coast of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida between April and November. They can be observed by divers, often at considerable depth, as the fish attend cleaning stations to remove parasite loads along the reef. Sunfish can also occasionally be seen basking on the surface of the ocean.

HISTORY
Between October 2004 and August 2005 at Lembongan/Penida, overly aggressive divers routinely ousted sunfish from their cleaning stations. These interactions dramatically decreased the time sunfish spent nearshore and greatly limited the number of sightings provided to divers.
Previous records, collected since the early 1990s (i.e. sunfish numbers, locations and behavior) clearly indicate that in previous years the “Bali Sunfish” were present in much higher numbers. More importantly, the fish were more stationary and seemingly at ease at known cleaning stations—routinely the sunfish did not show any reaction to the divers’ observations and remained in their initial position for long periods. This allowed divers to enjoy the sunfish’s natural behaviour and more often than not an exceptional encounter with this mysterious giant fish. It is these encounters that have given Bali its reputation as a world-class area for diving with the oceanic sunfish.

GUIDELINES
Interaction guidelines are important to provide the best possible encounter for divers while ensuring the lowest possible impact on the sunfish. The guidelines offer the ‘best practice’ as agreed upon by the dive industry and leading sunfish experts. If sunfish are routinely disturbed, or chased away from prime cleaning areas, they may be displaced all together. Equally as important is the preservation of the sunfish habitat and preventing habitat destruction by divers. If sunfish move away from Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida it will be detrimental for the diving industry and equally detrimental for the sunfish as Lembongan/Penida are possibly critical habitats for the sunfish.

By voluntarily adopting this set of guidelines, it is hoped that local dive operators and divers can lessen the tourist pressures on sunfish and allow these fish to resume their natural cleaning station behavior and previous high numbers. The quality of interaction, diver safety and hence the value and sustainability of this unique diver experience can also be maintained and ideally improved as the sunfish will be less likely to be frightened away.

Voluntary Codes of Conduct have proven vital in managing diver impacts on marine life and habitats in other popular dive destinations

whale sharks in Western Australia and California,
manta rays in Hawaii,
dolphins and whales in Bali (in progress) and elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region
coral reefs in the Caribbean, South Pacific and Australia.

By adopting a voluntary Code of Conduct and adhering to best practices, the future divers of Lembongan/Penida can avoid the necessity for legislation and enforcements involving unpleasant punitive fines.

DIVER BEHAVIOUR
The aim of developing the Code of Conduct for oceanic sunfish interactions is to ensure a positive and enjoyable interaction for divers by allowing the sunfish to settle onto cleaning stations without being disturbed. The removal of parasites at the cleaning stations is critical to the health of the sunfish. When sunfish are allowed to maintain their natural behaviour at the cleaning stations, the sunfish will settle for longer periods, offering better quality interactions for divers

Always approach sunfish very slowly within its field of view.
If the fish are just entering the cleaning station, do not approach until the cleaning has begun and the fish have been stationary for at least 1 minute.
Maintain a minimum distance of 3m (or 2 body lengths) from the closest sunfish when animal is in a cleaning station.
Maintain a minimum distance of 10m (or 5 body lengths) when animal is unsettled (not in cleaning) and considering approach to the reef.
DON’T TOUCH. (if you touch the fish you will remove the layer of slime which protects them against infection).
DON’T FEED.
Do not swim behind the sunfish as this can startle the animal.
Do not swim under the fish as your bubbles will disturb cleaning behavior.
Wherever possible, do not block the sunfish’s escape route off the reef or pathway onto a cleaning station.
If a sunfish approaches you, remain still and do not touch it.
Choose lowest possible flash setting to avoid disturbing the fish.
Do not use personal underwater motorized propulsion vehicles or make unnecessary loud noises.
Be courteous to other divers and restrict your interaction time to 5 minutes when other groups are present.
Restrict group sizes to maximum 4 divers and 1 guide with interactions to be controlled by the dive guide.
Boats carrying more than 4 divers should stagger their entry into the water to avoid overcrowding the site.
Only dive with companies which have endorsed and adhere to the Code of Conduct.
Follow the directions of your dive guide.

These guidelines, when followed, provide a quality interaction for the diver while ensuring the protection of the Sunfish.

Do not dump rubbish or sullage at the dive site.
Move slowly around the dive site and look out for diver’s bubbles.
Always use safety sausages, particularly on the safety stop.
Do not hover over the dive site with boat engines running.
Do not drop anchors onto the reef.
Once diving is concluded, move away from the dive site over deep water.
It is recommended that all divers have at least Advanced Open Water Certification and have dived during the last 12 months.
Note: for Crystal Bay specifically, always exit and enter the Bay at dead slow speed and on the south side of the Bay.