Bali Diving and Dive Sites

Bali’s surfeit of superb diving sites include the adjacent underwater paradises off Nusa Dua and Sanur as well as the nearby island of Lembongan which hosts spectacular Nusa Penida. Both these main sites are on the east of the island, where Padang Bai and Gili Tepekong are also located. On the west coast are Sacret Bay and Menjangan Island, other great dive sites.

The dive sites off Sanur and Nusa Dua are five minutes from shore by outrigger boat. The reefs are from drop-off depth through to moderate depth and the current is gentle. While visibility is limited to about seven metres, clearer weather outside the wet season can extend this by up to double. The coral is more lush and diverse closer to Nusa Dua, while fish species are greater in number at Sanur.

It takes around one hour to reach Lembongan Island’s Nusa Penida by speedboat. There are steep slopes off the drops here and visibility is consistently around 15 metres. The coral strand of Dendronephtya grows in abundance here and pelagic tropical fish species breed here too. The hawksbill turtle and large ocean sunfish and manta rays are among the highlights here.

Padang Bay is about 15 minutes from shore by outrigger boat. Visibility runs to 15 metres at best and the sea bottom is flat and sandy. Blue-spotted stingrays are common here. Nearby Gili Tepekong is part of a dive site complex that includes Biaha and Mimpang. The coral walls here are steep and there is even an underwater canyon. Visibility is standard at 20 metres and the schools of fish here are absolutely teeming. Some divers claim the water here can be subject to unexpected, very cold currents.

Possibly the diving highlight of Bali is the Menjangan Island National Marine Park, off the west coast of the island. It is listed to become a World Heritage Site, and is surrounded by a reef wall that plunges to 50 metres with visibility of up to 60 metres at all times of the year. The variety of coral and marine life here is outstanding and the caves, canyons and coral formations offer a magical atmosphere. Butterfly fish, sweetlips, frog fish and black and white tip reef sharks are part of the marine world here. Many divers spend two or three days diving at Menjangan Island.

Dive trips are easy to arrange in Bali. Any of the official or private tourism agencies around Kuta will be able to book tours that commence within 24 hours, and in some cases on the same day. There are many, many learn to dive schools and courses available and these cater to all levels of experience. People with absolutely no diving experience whatsoever can be confident that learn to dive courses in Bali are run by patient and empathetic instructors and that they will be sharing the experience with novices.