Quick Answer
The Nest is a circle of 48 human figures sitting on the sandy seabed off Gili Meno's west coast, created by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor in 2017. The statues are in 3 to 6 metres of water, easy to reach by snorkel directly from the beach. The best time to swim it is morning, on a calm day, ideally near low tide and a new moon for the clearest light.
Where exactly it is
The installation sits roughly 100 metres off the beach on the west side of Gili Meno, between BASK and the neighbouring resorts. From our jetty, you walk south along the shoreline for about ten minutes, look for the orange marker buoys offshore, and swim out. The water is calm and shallow most days. There is no boat needed.
If you'd prefer a guide, the activities desk can arrange a slow snorkel walk-out with someone from our team who knows the contours of the bottom, the safest entry point, and the days the visibility is at its best.
What you actually see
The statues are life-size human figures, arms linked or held to their chests, arranged in a near-perfect circle facing inward. Some kneel, some stand, some sit. They were cast in pH-neutral marine cement designed to encourage coral and sponge growth on the surface. Several years in, that's exactly what's happening. Soft corals trace the figures. Schools of cleaner wrasse work the limbs. Occasionally a turtle drifts through the circle on its way to graze somewhere else.
In good visibility, the sun cuts through the water in shafts and lands on the figures' heads and shoulders. That image (the figures, the corals colonising them, the light) is the photograph people take home, but the experience in the water is quieter and more meditative than the photographs suggest. The circle is large enough that you feel inside something, not next to it.
What the artist was trying to do
Jason deCaires Taylor's underwater sculpture installations exist in several places (Cancun, Lanzarote, the Maldives, Bali, Gili Meno among them). His thesis is consistent: traditional reefs are under pressure from warming oceans, bleaching, and human activity. Engineered surfaces that mimic complex reef topography can serve as anchors for new colonisation. The art is the visible part. The marine biology is the point.
The Nest on Gili Meno is partly a memorial and partly a hopeful gesture. It's quiet, intentional, and not interested in being a theme park.
The right way to snorkel it
A few notes from watching guests do this every week:
Go early. Visibility is best in the morning before the wind picks up. By midday on a breezy day, the surface chop and stirred sand reduce the clarity.
Pick a calm day. Strong onshore wind makes the swim out and back tiring, and the surface chop scatters the light. We watch the forecast and will tell you when to go.
Use a guide on your first visit if you've never snorkelled in open water. The walk-in is shallow and easy, but knowing where to enter and which direction to swim makes the experience smoother. Free to guests, just ask the activities desk.
Take a moment before you take a photo. Most guests we walk out with stop trying to capture the place after about three minutes. The light, the silence underwater, and the figures arranged in their slow patient circle are the experience.
What to wear and bring
- Mask, snorkel, fins. All provided free at the resort. Fins help with the swim out.
- Rash vest or long-sleeved swim top. The sun on your back during the swim is strong. Reef-safe sunscreen on exposed skin.
- A small float buoy if you're nervous about distance. Available from us. Useful psychologically.
- Camera or phone in waterproof housing. Optional. The photographs the place rewards are wider than most phones can take, but the figures themselves close up are striking.
Reef etiquette around The Nest
The marine zone the statues sit in is part of an ongoing conservation effort. The rules are basic, and we appreciate guests treating them as non-negotiable:
- Don't stand on, touch, or grab the statues. The corals colonising them are fragile.
- Don't kick the sand around them. Use a gentle flutter kick or breaststroke kick well above the bottom.
- No sunscreen with oxybenzone or octinoxate. Reef-safe brands only. We stock a few at reception if you forgot.
- No feeding fish. The site does well precisely because nothing is being baited there.
Combining it with the rest of the day
A morning at The Nest pairs well with several things on the island:
- Breakfast first. Snorkelling on a full stomach is uncomfortable. A light breakfast 30 minutes before is the move.
- Beach club after. Walk back along the shore, pool, lunch, daybed. The transition from underwater contemplation to a long lunch is part of why guests stay an extra night.
- Sunset on the west. The west coast gets the colour. Same beach you swam off in the morning.
When the place is less than perfect
A few situations to know:
- Heavy onshore wind. The water gets murky and the swim out is hard work. Skip the day.
- Around full moon, especially in wet season. Tidal currents are stronger. Less ideal for nervous swimmers.
- Mid-afternoon on a busy day. Day-trippers occasionally arrive by boat. Morning is yours alone.
The activities team checks the conditions every morning and will tell you whether today is a yes or a tomorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I swim to The Nest from the beach?
Yes. The statues sit roughly 100 metres offshore in 3 to 6 metres of water on the west side of Gili Meno. The walk-in and swim-out is straightforward in calm conditions.
Do I need a boat or tour?
No. The Nest is reachable directly from shore. Boat tours do visit it, but a quiet swim from the beach is the better experience.
What's the best time of day to snorkel The Nest?
Morning, between 08:00 and 11:00. Visibility is highest before the wind picks up, and the light angle into the water is at its most cinematic.
How deep is the water at The Nest?
The figures sit between roughly 3 and 6 metres deep. The seabed slopes gently from shore, so the walk-in is shallow and the swim out short.
Is it safe for kids?
For confident swimmers, yes. The water is calm most days and the depth is manageable from the surface. Younger children should stick close to a parent. Our team can walk a family out together.
Are there other underwater statues nearby?
The Nest is the main installation on Gili Meno. There are smaller scattered pieces nearby, and Bali has its own underwater sculpture sites. The Nest is the one to start with.
Can I touch the statues?
Please don't. The corals and sponges growing on them are fragile and easy to damage. Look closely, photograph respectfully, and leave the figures alone.
