Blue ribbon eel on the reef off Pulau Weh, Aceh

Photo: prilfish, cropped, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Arus Balee (Arus Paleh)

Rubiah, Pulau Weh, Indonesia

  • Advanced
  • Strong current
  • Best Oct to Apr

Arus Balee is an advanced dive site in Rubiah, Pulau Weh, Indonesia. Dives run from 10 to 30 m, in strong current. The best months are October to April. Marine life here includes napoleon wrasse, eagle ray and white-tip reef shark. 2 dive shops on Scubalo run trips here.

Updated

Conditions at Arus Balee

Max depth
30 m
Depth range
10–30 m
Current
Strong
Level
Advanced
Depth profile: dives from 10 m to 30 m.

Safety

Current
Can be strong; dive it with a local guide.

About Arus Balee

Arus Balee, also spelled Arus Paleh and nicknamed Bastard Current, is a drift dive in the channel between Seulako and Rubiah islands off Pulau Weh, where two currents meet over a reef of gorgonian fans and table corals busy with trevally.

Arus Balee lies in the channel between the small island of Seulako and Rubiah, off the northwest of Pulau Weh. Two currents meet here, and the site is dived as a drift: you drop in, ride the flow and let the boat pick you up. Local shops also spell it Arus Paleh, and divers on the island call it the Bastard Current.

The reef is one of the richest around the island. Gorgonian fans, staghorn and table corals cover the slope, and the fish are thick enough that the water can seem to darken as schools pass. Giant and bluefin trevally hunt along the edge, a pinnacle in the channel gathers swirling fish, and eagle rays come through often.

Dive logs put the dive at an average of about 15 metres, reaching around 30 metres. The current can be strong, so it suits advanced divers who are comfortable drifting.

When to dive Arus Balee

Best months: January, February, March, April, October, November, December.

Season

Right now
Year round
Pulau Weh is dived all year.
Calmest months
October to April, with the calmest seas and best visibility.

Marine life at Arus Balee

What divers report seeing here. Tap one to see where else it turns up.

Type of diving

Location

Questions about Arus Balee

Where is Arus Balee?

Arus Balee is in the channel between Seulako and Rubiah islands, off the northwest coast of Pulau Weh near Iboih. It is a short boat ride from the island's dive centres.

Why is Arus Balee called the Bastard Current?

Two currents meet in the channel, and the flow can turn strong and change direction. Divers on Pulau Weh call it the Bastard Current, and local shops also spell its name Arus Paleh.

How deep is Arus Balee?

Most dives here average around 15 metres, with the reef reaching about 30 metres. Because of the current it suits advanced divers.

What can you see at Arus Balee?

Gorgonian fans, staghorn and table corals, dense schools of reef fish, giant and bluefin trevally hunting, and eagle rays that pass through often.

When is the best time to dive Arus Balee?

Pulau Weh is dived all year. October to April brings the calmest seas and the best visibility.

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Dive shops that go to Arus Balee

2 shops in the directory run trips here.

Dive sites near Arus Balee

All dive sites in Pulau Weh

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