Every year, thousands of tourists make the pilgrimage to Bali to see not only the island but also its fascinating underwater world. Bali is one of the best and most popular diving destinations in the world. There are diving areas with numerous diving schools offering scuba diving at many different locations on the island. But why is diving in Bali so popular? What makes the island so special and why is it so suitable for diving?
Bali’s diving areas by region
Diving near Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida
Diving in the east of Bali
Diving in the north of Bali
Why diving in Bali is so popular
Diving in Bali is very popular. But why is that? Six good reasons are presented below.
1. Many diving spots
Bali has a wide range of diving spots spread across the entire island. This makes diving in Bali very easy and accessible. In the south of the island, for example, you will find the very popular spots around the neighbouring islands of Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, while in the east are Tulamben, Padang Bai, Amed and Candidasa, and in the northwest you can dive at Menjangan Island, Secret Bay and Pemuteran.
There are no diving spots in the usual tourist hotspots such as Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu or Sanur, but there are diving schools that offer trips to the corresponding regions. However, there is also a wide range of accommodation in the places where diving is possible in Bali. Many resorts have even completely geared themselves towards divers and snorkellers and offer corresponding packages.
2. Great biodiversity
The Indonesian island of Bali is located in the Indian Ocean on the so-called Lombok Strait. This waterway between Bali and Lombok connects the Bali Sea in the north with the Indian Ocean in the south. Due to the constant exchange of water masses, there is a very high biodiversity of corals, fish and other aquatic life here, which makes diving in Bali particularly attractive. In addition, the so-called ‘Wallace Line’, which separates the Asian from the Australian flora, is located there. Here you can admire various species of sharks, manta rays, stone fish, moon fish, seahorses, mackerel, anemone fish, ghost moray eels, turtles, dolphins and much more.
3. fascinating underwater world
But it is not only the biodiversity that is impressive, but also the diving areas themselves. In Bali, there are countless diving sites with a wide variety of highlights to explore. From fascinating reefs to shipwrecks and steep walls, to artificial reef projects or top-deck diving over smooth volcanic rock, there is plenty to see and do here. Diverse diving areas, a largely healthy coral diversity, many tropical fish species and good visibility make diving in Bali particularly exciting.
4. Many diving schools
Due to the numerous diving areas and the breathtaking biodiversity that attracts many divers and snorkelers from all over the world every year, a number of diving schools have now settled on the Indonesian island and offer their services. There are even a few English-speaking diving centres that make diving in Bali accessible to people who do not speak English very well or who feel more comfortable surrounded by their mother tongue.
5. Diving in Bali all year round
In theory, diving in Bali is possible all year round. However, visibility is best during the dry season between May and September. Then you can see up to 30 metres. Unfortunately, during the rainy season, a lot of rubbish and sewage is washed into the sea, which affects both the water quality and visibility. The water temperature is a pleasant 26 to 29 degrees all year round.
6. affordable prices
The cost of living on the Indonesian island is very low. Since Bali is generally comparatively cheap, dives and diving courses are also relatively affordable. Diving in Bali sometimes costs only a fraction of what it does in other destinations.
Excursus: SCUBA-Diving
The history of diving began as early as 4500 BC. At that time, people dived to harvest sponges, pearls and corals. Divers were also used in the fight against enemy ships. Of course, the equipment that is available to us today and that enables us to make long dives was not available back then. At that time, apnoea diving (often also called freediving today) was still practised. In this case, the diver holds his breath and dives without a bottle. This type of diving is now enjoying great popularity again, but this does not detract from the popularity of so-called scuba diving.
SCUBA is an abbreviation for ‘Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus’. It allows us to stay under the water surface for longer periods of time without having to come up for air. Scuba diving is diving with equipment such as a breathing cylinder, neoprene suit, fins and diving goggles.
Scuba diving as we know it today originated in the 1950s and 1960s. It was then that the first equipment was developed that allowed us to breathe underwater. For recreational divers, the limit is around 30 to 40 metres underwater. If you want to go deeper, you need special training. Of course, you generally need a certain level of training in the form of a diving licence, also known as a brevet, for recreational diving. There are various options for this.
There are various accredited training organisations that offer diving in Bali. The most well-known diving associations are PADI, SSI, CMAS and NAUI, and they each offer courses from introductory and beginner courses to advanced courses and training to become a diving instructor. In order to rent diving equipment and go diving independently, you need to complete at least the beginner’s course, which takes about three days. During this time, you will learn the basics of diving, first in the pool, then in the sea, and finally you will have to pass an exam.
Conclusion: Is diving in Bali worth it?
If you come to Bali for diving, you will certainly not be disappointed. The fascinating underwater world and the great diversity of species will impress even the most experienced of divers. The partly crystal-clear water, the pleasant temperatures and the good visibility in the dry season make diving in Bali a pure pleasure. Thanks to the good price-performance ratio of the numerous diving schools on
