For many divers, the legendary Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) is one of the main reasons to visit Bali during the cooler months. Traditionally associated with Nusa Penida and its famous cleaning stations, these gentle giants attract scuba divers and underwater photographers from around the world.
However, the ocean always has a way of surprising us.
During the past week, several Mola Mola sightings have been reported in Tulamben, including one near the famous USAT Liberty Wreck and multiple encounters at Seraya, one of Bali’s most renowned macro diving sites. While sightings of Ocean Sunfish in Tulamben are rare, seeing several individuals over the course of a week is even more unusual.
Could this be an early sign that Bali’s 2026 Mola Mola season is beginning?
Seraya is internationally known as one of the best muck diving and underwater photography sites in Bali. Divers typically visit in search of nudibranchs, frogfish, ghost pipefish, octopus, shrimp, and other fascinating creatures hidden in the black volcanic sand.
Over the past week, however, divers have encountered several Ocean Sunfish at Seraya. The fish were observed spending time around schools of Moorish Idol fish, which appeared to be cleaning parasites from their skin.
This cleaning behavior is one of the main reasons Mola Molas visit shallower reefs. Although they spend much of their lives in deeper offshore waters, they regularly ascend to cleaning stations where smaller reef fish remove parasites and dead tissue.
While this behavior is commonly seen around Nusa Penida, witnessing it at Seraya is a truly special event and something even long-time Tulamben divers rarely experience.
Although nobody can say for certain why these Ocean Sunfish have appeared, the most likely explanation is changing water temperatures.
Each year, Bali’s dry season brings cooler, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean closer to the surface. These upwellings are the same phenomenon that attracts Mola Molas to Bali’s waters between July and October.
Many local divers have already noticed cooler temperatures in recent weeks, suggesting that seasonal changes may be arriving earlier than expected. The recent sightings at both the USAT Liberty Wreck and Seraya may therefore be connected to the beginning of the annual Mola Mola season.
The Mola Mola is famous for its unique appearance and enormous size. Adults can grow to more than 3 meters in length and weigh over 1,000 kilograms, making them the largest bony fish in the world.
What makes this even more remarkable is how small they are when they begin life.
A newly hatched Mola Mola measures only a few millimeters in length. From a tiny larva barely visible to the naked eye, it grows into a giant weighing more than a small car, making it one of the most dramatic growth stories in the animal kingdom.
Indonesia is considered one of the best places in the world to encounter Ocean Sunfish. The most famous destination remains Nusa Penida, where divers regularly search for Mola Molas during the cooler months.
Popular Mola Mola dive sites in Bali include Crystal Bay, Blue Corner, Toyapakeh, SD Point, and Ped. The peak Mola Mola season generally runs from July through October, although sightings outside these months are always possible.
Because these fish spend much of their lives in deep water, encounters are never guaranteed. This unpredictability is part of what makes every sighting so memorable.
Tulamben is particularly famous for the USAT Liberty Wreck, Coral Garden, Drop Off, Kubu, Seraya, night diving, and macro photography. Most visitors arrive hoping to see frogfish, nudibranchs, octopus, pygmy seahorses, and other unusual reef creatures.
Encountering a Mola Mola during a dive in Tulamben is therefore an unexpected bonus that few divers ever anticipate.
One day you may be photographing a tiny nudibranch only a few centimeters long. The next day you could find yourself face-to-face with the largest bony fish in the ocean.
While Mola Mola sightings in Tulamben remain rare and unpredictable, they are a wonderful reminder that Bali’s underwater world is constantly changing and always full of surprises.
At Bali Dive Resort and Spa, we dive Tulamben’s famous sites every day, including the USAT Liberty Wreck, Coral Garden, Drop Off, Kubu, and Seraya. Whether you are interested in wreck diving, macro photography, PADI courses, or simply exploring some of the best scuba diving in Bali, our team would be happy to help you discover the underwater treasures of Tulamben.
Who knows? During your next dive, you might come for the nudibranchs a
nd leave with a story about an unexpected encounter with a Mola Mola.
Contact us today to learn more about our diving packages, accommodation, and PADI courses, and start planning your next Tulamben diving adventure.
If you’ve ever wanted to explore the underwater world, the PADI Open Water Course in Tulamben is the perfect place to begin. As the world’s most popular scuba certification, the PADI Open Water course has introduced millions of people to ...
