In South Lombok (Belongas Bay area) we are extremely fortunate to have incredible hammerhead sightings – in fact we are the pioneers of diving in this area and would love for you to join us for adrenaline pumping hammerhead dives in South Lombok!!

But how much do you know about this distinctive looking species of shark? Did you know that there are different types of hammerheads? Did you know that in Lombok we see two different species?

At the iconic dive site called The Magent we see both Great Hammerheads and Scalloped Hammerheads.

• Usually our sightings of Great Hammerheads are around the 35 meters depth and they tend to be individual sightings or small groups of the 3 to 5 individuals
• The schooling hammerheads that we see are actually the Scalloped Hammerhead species, and we see them at shallower depths on the open ocean side of the site. These incredible schools are a phenomenal highlight of diving in this unique area.

If you want to know more about the schooling Scalloped Hammerheads of South Lombok then read on!

The Schooling Scalloped Hammerheads

• The Scalloped Hammerhead is also known as the ‘Bronze Hammerhead’ and the ‘Kidney Headed Shark’,
• Scalloped hammerheads are relatively easy to distinguish from other hammerhead shark species by virtue of the central indentation on the front margin of their broad heads.

Note the central indentation which distinguishes the scalloped hammerhead from other species

• Scalloped hammerheads range in colour from brownish grey to bronze on top with pale white or yellowy undersides and juveniles have dark second dorsal and pectoral fins.
• Fully mature males reach up to around 1.8 meters and females can be up to 2.5 meters. Yes – the females are larger than the males!
• The scalloped hammerhead is a semi oceanic species of shark which is commonly found around insular shelves which are adjacent to deep waters. The Magnet is actually a feeding ground for these hammerheads due to the seasonal schools of mobula rays which provide make easy prey for them in large numbers.
• By day they tend to stay closer to shore whilst at night they head further offshore in search of prey – they have been seen from the surface down to depths of up to 275 meters!

Young scalloped hammerheads are known to form large schools

• Adults are seen individually, in pairs and in small schools but young scalloped hammerheads live in large schools, new borns and infants live in coastal nurseries. For this reason we believe that the Magnet could also be a nursery area.
• The scalloped hammerheads diet is extremely varied and includes reef fish such as parrot fishes, surgeons, wrasses and damsel fish, pelagics such as barracuda, Spanish mackerel, other sharks and rays such as black tip reef sharks and sting rays and they are also known to feed on invertebrates including squid, octopus, shrimps, crabs and lobsters.
• Female scalloped hammerheads move inshore to shallow water to pup and they give birth to live young following a 9 – 10 month gestation period. Litters are large and can range from 12 – 38 pups which are just 15 to 18 inches long at birth. After pupping females leave the young and return to deeper water.

By day the scalloped hammerhead stays close to shore but ventures deeper at night

• Hammerhead pups living in coastal nurseries are extremely vulnerable to fishing, pollution, habitat destruction and they are prey to other larger shark species. As mature adults the scalloped hammerhead has no major predators. Despite having large litters though only a small proportion of the pups will reach sexual maturity but for those that do, life expectancy is estimated at 30 years plus.
• The IUCN has listed the scalloped hammerhead as ‘near threatened’ and globally its numbers are in decline. Both game fishing and commercial fishing have had an impact on the species and they are also vulnerable to long lines, trawls and they are often by-catch in drift net fishing. As with all shark species today they are sadly also caught for their fins for the black market shark fin industry. We are extremely fortunate to have such a thriving and healthy population visiting us year after year!
• Please note that the best time to dive with hammerheads in South Lombok is from end-June until end-Oct.

 
Do you want more information about Belongas Bay in South Lombok? Check out our Belongas Bay Dive Resort and Dive Sites!

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Big Fish Special Offer

If you are intending to travel this year then take advantage of our fabulous Big Fish Special Offer.

Diving discount

If you dive both Nusa Lembongan/Nusa Penida AND South Lombok locations then we’ll give you a 10% discount on your diving in the 2nd location!! Click here for offer details.

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Want to take your PADI Advanced Open Water course while you are with us? We’ll offer a 10% discount to get you closer to being able to dive these Big Fish! Click here for offer details.