Bali’s lush exoticism extends from the volcanic peaks in the interior down to the colourful coral reefs along the beautiful coastline. Thanks to this breathtaking underwater world, Bali is particularly popular with experienced divers and is equally suitable for first-time divers on holiday. In addition to the world-class diving spots off the mainland, the diving areas off the small, southeastern islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida in particular offer a relaxed island feeling with unforgettable diving experiences. In the crystal-clear water off Nusa Penida, with a little luck you can meet graceful manta rays and rare moon fish (Mola Molas) while snorkelling and diving.
Diving sites for advanced and beginners
The three offshore islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are located on the Lombok Strait, which runs between Bali and Lombok. This strait is up to 40 km wide and up to 250 metres deep and connects the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. This means that there are strong currents here, because the water flows from one ocean to the other through a relatively narrow area. Therefore, it is recommended that you have some experience when diving in this strait. However, the challenging conditions are rewarded with spectacular dives, because the region around Nusa Penida is known for its above-average biodiversity.
But there are also dive sites here that are less exposed to currents and are therefore suitable for beginners. Some of the sheltered bays offer perfect conditions for first-time divers. Furthermore, the current varies depending on the tides, moon phases and weather – experienced dive guides select the appropriate dive sites based on experience level.
You can dive here all year round, but the sunfish season is only from July to September. The dive sites are accessed from Bali (20-40 minute boat ride) or the three islands. However, it is worth spending several days on one of the idyllic islands to explore the beauty of Bali’s underwater world.
Colourful hustle and bustle off Nusa Lembongan
At eight square kilometres, Nusa Lembongan is a tranquil island paradise where life is quiet and relaxed. Only in the high season can it get quite crowded with day-trippers from Bali at the main attractions. On the north side, you will find beautiful white sandy beaches, mangroves and coral reefs with countless colourful fish. The rest of the island is rocky and covered with scrub – here you can enjoy spectacular sunsets from cliff tops. But the real spectacle takes place in the crystal-clear water – thanks to the good visibility, you can see many sea creatures while diving or snorkelling. In Jungutbatu, the island’s tourist centre, there are a few diving schools, hotels and restaurants.
Diving where others surf: the Jungutbatu house reef
The reef in the large bay of Jungutbatu begins east of the Bali Hai platform, which serves as the starting point for banana boats. A beautiful wave also breaks over the reef, which is very popular with surfers. The dive site is a classic, shallow beginners’ spot that has a kind of underwater nature trail and is perfect for your first diving experience – it can only get a bit hectic above water.
A colourful mix: Mangrove
One of the three dive sites off Nusa Lembongan is Mangrove, which takes its name from the extensive mangrove forests between Lembongan and Ceningan. Underwater, there is a shallow slope that drops to about 30 metres and is covered with huge corals and sponges. The abundance and diversity of marine life here is particularly impressive, giving you the feeling of being in an aquarium. Since there are also days with moderate currents, Mangrove is also suitable for beginner divers when the conditions are right.
Spectacular and challenging: the Blue Corner
The Blue Corner (also called Jurassic Point) is a spectacular dive site reserved for experienced divers only. The strong currents can be treacherous, but they also attract large pelagic fish, making it a common spot to see ocean sunfish (Mola mola), which can grow up to three metres long. The Blue Corner is usually teeming with fish such as sweetlips, sharks, large napoleon wrasse, large tunas, marble and eagle rays, giant electric rays and other marine life. And the water is, as the name suggests, beautifully blue and clear.
Diving off Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida, with an area of 203 square kilometres, is the largest of the three islands between Bali and Lombok. The undeveloped island is a true natural paradise that particularly attracts divers and snorkelers, because it is home to famous diving spots such as Manta Point and Crystal Bay. The selection of world-class diving spots is so large that it is worth spending a few days on the quiet, barren island to explore the breathtaking underwater world. There is a small selection of hotels and homestays, as well as a few restaurants and diving schools that are perfectly familiar with the changing diving conditions.
Manta Point off Nusa Penida
A sighting of manta rays is almost guaranteed when diving at Manta Point. It is probably every diver’s dream to be underwater with these graceful giants. With an average wingspan of three to five metres, an encounter with a manta ray is an unforgettable experience. Manta Point at the southern tip of Nusa Penida is a cleaning station for manta rays, where they have their skin cleaned by tiny fish. There is also quite a strong current here, so this dive is recommended for more experienced divers. These beautiful creatures can be seen all year round off Nusa Penida – only in the rainy season (November to March) is visibility often limited.
Crystal Bay in Nusa Penida
The small bay on the east coast of Nusa Penida actually gets its name from the crystal clear water there! The dive site is shallow at the beginning, before the bottom drops off to steep depths at the end of the bay. In addition to the great visibility, impressive corals and vibrant marine life, the dive site is also known for encounters with the Mola-Mola (sunfish), one of the heaviest bony fish in the world. Unfortunately, even in the high season, you have to be very lucky to encounter it, because the fish is shy.
Bat Cave in Nusa Penida
The Bat Cave dive site near Crystal Bay is something you rarely get to see. This dive offers an extraordinary combination of the thrill of diving and exploring a cave that is only accessible from the sea. To find the entrance to the cave, you have to dive to a depth of 30 metres, which means that this dive is not for inexperienced divers. On the way to the cave entrance, you may encounter whitetip and blacktip sharks before diving into the dark tunnel. At the end of the tunnel, the light from the cave shines. Once there, hundreds of bats fly over the divers, making this dive an unforgettable experience.
Gamat Bay – diving in an aquarium
This sheltered bay is one of the most beautiful diving spots on Nusa Penida, offering an impressive experience for all levels of diver. The bay is an eight-metre-deep plateau teeming with countless colourful fish among the hard and soft corals – and turtles are often seen here too. There is also little current here. At the end of the bay, the plateau drops to 40 metres. This steep wall is home to a number of caves and a rich underwater life. Thanks to the crystal-clear water, visibility is excellent and, with a little luck, you can spot moonfish, rays and sharks in the blue.
Conclusion: Who should go diving off Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida?
The quiet, small islands between Bali and Lombock offer relaxation and pure nature – especially underwater. The diving areas are characterised by crystal-clear water and vibrant, intact coral reefs. Due to the location of the islands, there are strong currents underwater, which makes diving more difficult but also enriches it, because it means that you can see a lot of large fish in this strait, such as the rare moonfish (Mola Mola), manta rays and sharks.
Most of the diving areas are only suitable for experienced divers, but there are also places where beginners can have their first experiences. The infrastructure is geared towards divers and snorkellers, and so you will find a small but fine selection of diving schools, hotels and restaurants. You can also visit the diving areas from Bali on a day trip.
