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If you have dived in Bali before, please share your experiences: Dive spots you would recommend, which Dive Center you used, Fishes & Diving, Visibility, Currents, etc. Please post your comments in the section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next trip
Every scuba diver of all levels can enjoy the magnificent diving in Bali. The best dive sites for beginners are around Amed, Padang Bay, and Pulau Menjangan which have very light or often no current at all.
Bali offers even more opportunities to those advanced divers, with many drift dives such as around Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Candidasa.
The current can sometimes be very strong and several dive sites around Bali should be treated with care and respect.
Credit Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39891373@N07/4163929100/
Macro Lovers and critter hunters will be delighted to dive in Secret Bay and Seraya Secret. Amed has also many fantastic spots for Muck Diving. These diving spots are like heaven for underwater macro photography!
Many Places around Bali are also VERY good for snorkelling especially on the East Coast from Padang Bay to Amed.
The visibility is usually very good and ranges from 10 to 50 meters. Best visibility is usually found around Nusa Penida and Pulau Menjangan.
Dive Prices in Bali
Please find below a summary of the dive prices around Bali:
Price Discover Scuba: 60 to 70 US Dollars / 55 to 60 Euros
One Dive cost: 25 to 35 US Dollars / 20 to 25 Euros
Price Padi Open Water Course: 275 to 290 US Dollars / 250 to 260 Euros
Price Padi Open Water Advanced Course: 265 to 275 US Dollars / 240 to 250 Euros
Price Recue Diver Course: 290 to 310 US Dollars / 270 to 280 Euros
Divemaster Course price: starts from 800 US Dollars / 700 Euros
I advise you not to always go to the cheapest dive center but to visit a few and ask questions before chosing. It is always better to pay a bit more and to feel comfortable with your Divemaster!
In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in Bali.
Table of contents
How to dive Bali?
There are 3 scuba diving zones around Bali:
- South Bali (Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Sanur)
- East Coast of Bali (Padang bai, Candidasa, Tulamben, Amed)
- North West Coast of Bali (Menjangan Island, Permutaran, Lovina, Gilimanuk).
The best dive sites in Bali are:
- Liberty Ship Wreck, One of the Best and Easiest Wrecks in the World!
- Manta Point, to observe the superb Manta Rays!
- Crystal Bay, to spot the rare Mola Mola!
- Secret Bay in Gilimanuk, a must dive for any Underwater Macro Photographer!
From Bali, you can also start a Liveaboard trip to explore the best spots around North Lombok and the famous Komodo Islands. Trips range from a few days up to 2 weeks.
I usually use this website to book in advance my Liveaboards in Indonesia as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because they have an easy booking system.
Where to stay?
I usually use this website to book in advance my hotels in Bali as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because it's free to cancel and change the dates.
Best time to dive in Bali
Bali is a year round diving destination with warm temperatures. During the colder months, the water is around 29°C, so you don’t have to worry too much about getting chilly!
It is recommended to wear 3mm shorty or a full length suit depending on where you plan to dive. The coldest water is around Nusa Penida and Secret Bay with temperatures as low as 24°C! The dry season in Bali runs from April to October however:
- The best diving season is from May to November (May, June, July, September, October, November).
- The best time to see Manta Rays is April and May
- The best time or season to see the famous Mola Mola, Oceanic sunfish is from August to October.
- The worst season to dive is during the monsoon from December to February (December, January, February and sometimes March) when heavy rain makes the visibility not so good on the East and North coasts Bali dive sites. During this period, consider going diving in Komodo National Park as this is the Manta Ray season!
Top liveaboards in Bali according to divers reviews
Dive courses
Here is a list of some of the best diving centres in Bali Island.
- Aquamarine Diving – Bali (Seminyak)
- Atlantis International Bali (Sanur)
- Bali Scuba (Sanur)
- Blue Season Bali (Sanur)
- Dive Concepts (Tulamben & Pemuteran)
- Crystal Divers (Sanur)
- Joe’s Gone Diving (Sanur)
- Bali Dive Trek (Amed)
- Two Fish Divers (Amed & Nusa Lembongan)
- Nico Dives Cool Bali (Sanur & Tulamben)
- Abyss Ocean World (Pemuteran)
- Bali Bubbles Dive Center (Candidasa)
- Adventure Divers Bali (Padang Bai)
- Scuba Duba Doo Dive Center (Kuta)
- Eco Dive Bali (Candidasa)
- Amed Fun Divers (Amed)
- Poseidon Bali Scuba Diving Center (Seminyak)
- Tulamben Dive (Tulamben)
- Diving Indo (Sanur)
- Bali Diving Academy (Locations in Pemuteran, Lembongan, Sanur, and Tulamben)
It’s crucial to research and read reviews before selecting a dive center, as the quality of your experience can depend significantly on the dive center’s professionalism, safety standards, equipment, and staff. Always ensure the dive center is certified and adheres to international safety standards.
Fishes and Coral
The waters around Bali are very rich and colourful with an amazing diversity of fish and coral species. The marine life is teeming and the coral reefs are very healthy. The hard and soft coral is magnificent and mostly untouched with numerous sea fans and sponges.
The big stars in Bali are the world famous Mola Mola and the Manta Ray.
- The Mola Mola also called oceanic sunfish can be found all year round but the best moment to spot it is from August to October around the Island of Nusa Penida and particularly at the dive site Crystal Bay.
- Manta Rays are present all year round around Bali but THE place to admire these gentle giants is the dive site Manta Point located at Nusa Penida.
You will also have the chance to spot plenty of pelagic fishes such as Barracuda, Giant trevally, Whitetip Reef Shark and Blacktip Reef Shark. Turtles are also very common around the island.
It is also very rich in the small and strange creatures such as Ornate Ghost Pipefish, Mimic Octopus, Leaf fish, Frogfish, pygmy seahorse, Flamboyant cuttlefish, rare nudibranchs and so much more!
The best diving locations around Bali for macro and muck diving are Secret Bay in Gilimanuk, Menjangan Island and Seraya Secret close to Tulamben.
Diving Safety
If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Bali, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Author: Julien, creator of blog plongée sous marine
Photos Bali
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Mola Mola And Moorish IdolPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Clown fishes waiting in front of their blue anemone housePhoto by Jihye Lee -
Flying Ray Manta in Bali!Photo by Jihye Lee -
FrogfishPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Clownfish Near AnemonePhoto by Jihye Lee -
Trumpet FishPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Juvenile Angelfish And Moray EelPhoto by Jihye Lee -
BatfishPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Pufferfish HidingPhoto by Jihye Lee -
ClownfishPhoto by Jihye Lee
Travel Guide
Now that you know all about the underwater world, you might want to start planning your scuba holiday! Check out our Bali Travel Review for information about how to get there, activities and excursions, where to stay, and more.
Diving Reviews for this region
Tulamben
One of the best Wreck Dives in the World!!! And the most easy for sure, 30m from the Shore and starts at 4m deep! Fantastic Marine life and great Coral!
Pemutaran, Lovina
No current, Good visibility, unusual Marine Life and one of the BEST Diving sites around Bali for Muck Diving: Puri Jati (P.J.).
Padang Bai
Night Diving, Underwater Macro Photography, Resident Whitetip Reef Sharks, Huge green Turtles, and crystal clear water! Also a great Snorkelling spot!
Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan
One of the best spots in the world to see the rare Mola Mola and the graceful Manta Rays! Big fishes and action with lots of sharks. Very good Visibility and stunning Coral.
Menjangan Island
Menjangan Island is famous worldwide for Wall diving with small caverns to explore. The reef and Coral are also great. A very nice wooden wreck from the 19th century: Anker Wreck.
Candidasa
It is all about action! Big pelagic fishes, hunting action in the current, and many Sharks! Regular seeing of Hammerhead Sharks and Mola Mola!
Amed
Magnificent coral, no current, relaxed and easy diving, possibilities for night diving, good place for underwater macro photography, and a great snorkelling spot.
Liveaboard Reviews in Bali
Question: I have a limited time to visit Bali (7 days total) and want to spend a couple of days diving and the rest of the time visiting the country. I had thought about going to the Gillis, but it seems time consuming, transportation wise, to get there and back. Would you compare Menjangan to the Gillis for me? We are a family of divers with some experience, but we don’t dive often enough to be considered experts. Thank you!
Hello Sandy. Thank you for sharing your holiday plans on DiveZone. Both Gili Islands in Lombok and Menjangan Island in Bali are great ideas to spend a week diving & sightseeing with family. In my opinion Gili Islands is a bit small for sightseeing and you would have to head to Lombok mainland to do some on-land excursions. Also considering which period you are planning to travel, high season can be very crowded in Gili Islands (especially Gili Trawangan). The diving is considered a perfect place for beginners because of the easy conditions and relaxed diving, the highlights are reef sharks and turtles. Otherwise, Menjangan Island being in Bali provides a larger range of sightseeing options and top-side activities to choose from. As well the diving in Menjangan Island is fantastic being Bali’s first internationally-known diving location. The highlights are coral walls and grottoes combined with great visibility. Sandy, both options are worth some thought and consideration. Should you wish to have more detail information about both locations, please don’t hesitate in contacting me at diving@aquamarinediving.com I would be delighted to offer you more information (how to get there, what to expect…) and also some diving + accommodation packages for your easy reference. Looking forward to assisting you build your next perfect diving holiday!
Nice Post, Really adventurous diving in Indonesia, The Picture of the blogs shows more exciting to came up, I cant wait to experience this beautiful spot in Diving, Thanks for the post
“Divers who like to see frogfish,pygmy seahorse, harley quinn/ underwater photography of the macro variety”
Amed is a great place to locate yourself for diving Bali east coast up to Tulamben(US T Liberty )’Bunutan ,seray ,dive site for muck-diving.
Or special morning dive at Tulamben US T Libertyto see many bumphead parrotfish .
Also a good and convenient place to stay near beach in amed : Tradisi villas.
Hi Konong, you are absolutely right! Amed is a great location for diving. It offers an interesting variety of dives; with a black sand slope, coral reefs and also a wall. At AquaMarine Diving – Bali, we propose Amed particularly in our popular wreck diving safari (where it includes all the wrecks in Bali – such as the Tulamben Bay Liberty Shipwreck, the anker wreck in Menjangan island, the Japanese wreck in Amed and more!)and our well-known uw photographers’ dream dive safari with superb opportunities for macro photography (such as Secret Bay in the north west, Puri Jati in the North or Ghost bay in Amed among others). And as you say, staying in Amed is a good idea to experience the best dive sites in the North East coast while enjoying the black sandy beach and seafood restaurants!
I just finished diving today (13-09-2014) in Bali. I used Pro Dive Bali as my diving operator. The first and third day me and my wife dived at Nusa Penida Island. The main reason for us to come to Bali at this time of the year was to spot the Mola Mola (sunfish). We dived at Manta Point where we saw 4 or 5 Mantas but the place was so crowded that it was very diffficult to actually have a good look of the animals. Most of the divers there were chasing the Mantas like crazy and I wonder if they have not realized yet mantas (or any other fish for that matter) can swim a lot quicker than anyone of us?? Bottom line was that the mantas finally swam away from the place. Second dive was at Crystal Bay. Well, the was no Mola Mola at all and my friends, if you are unlucky as we were, there is absolutely nothing to see there! The second dive day at Nusa Penida was pretty much the same! Searching for the elusive Mola Mola with no luck at all. Another wasted diving day! The dive at tulamben was the only thing worth on this trip. I am not very keen on wrecks but have to admit this was a really nice dive. The USAT Liberty offer a good oportunity to divers of all level to explore the wreck and the beautiful coral within. The only down thing about Tulambem is that it is located some 2 1/2 hours from Kuta making at long, long drive (traffic and roads in Bali don’t help at all). Other than this two dive sites, there is nothing else worth diving in Bali. It may be a good place to get your Open Water Diver certification but it is a boring and dull diving place for the experience diver. Finally, if you are coming to Bali, there are much better Diving Operators than Pro Dive. The divemasters don’t really speak any english making it very difficult to comunicate and I am sorry to say this, but they swim as fast and as deep they can in order to exhaust the customers’ air quickly so they can surface and go home early. This happened to us during the 4 days out of 5 we originally booked. We decided to cancel the last day of diving precisely because of the dreadful diving sites and the divemasters diving “tricks”. This goes for you Mr. Eltoro at Pro Dive.
Hi,
i am planning for a trip to Bali from 3-14 Nov and planning to dive from 5-8 nov. Can someone help me with tips and idea where to stay for my diving days (i don’t prefer long travel to dive site) and i plan to do 2 dives per day – need a budget and quotation for this as well. i am AOW diver with 50+ dives.
Hello HMH, thank you for your post on Divezone and your email to AquaMarine Diving – Bali too. It will be a delight to reply to your email with a possible mini dive safari for you to consider. Being an Advanced diver will give you the opportunity to experience many wonderful dive sites. Expect my offer for a great diving holiday any minute now! I will make sure to propose 2 different budgets so you can choose what suits you best. Again thank you for contacting us and we look forward to having you join us for some fantastic diving.
Hi,
I’m going to be in Bali/Gili Islands from Feb 12-19 2015 and am trying to figure out the difference between the two locations for diving. We are staying in Seminyak on Bali and on Gili T. I am the only diver in our group so I may only be able to sneak away for one day of diving. Any recommendations between Bali and Gili of where I should plan my dives? I haven’t done a ton of diving in the past so would prefer to avoid anything too technical. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, thanks!
Hello Lanny, it is great to hear that you are visiting Bali and Gili Islands in February, and that even though your holiday is pre-planned as a non-diving vacation, you still take a day to discover what the underwater part of the islands have to offer. Well Gili Islands are considered a relaxed diving location with beautiful sandy bottom and are known for their numerous turtles. Bali however, has too many different kind of dives to fit in one category… you can choose from wrecks, muck sites, pelagic encounters, drift dives, critters… In my opinion if you only have 1 day to dive in Bali, I would choose the 120m Liberty Shipwreck at Tulamben Bay – it is a must see dive site, the marinelife is amazing and it is an easy dive. If you are staying in Seminyak we can easily pick you up in the morning and bring you to Tulamben Bay (in the North East Coast) and after 2 or 3 fantastic dives and a delicious lunch we would bring you back to your hotel – to meet your friends and share the memories of your trip with AquaMarine Diving – Bali. Otherwise another idea that could make everybody happy is to combine a diving and snorkeling experience in Blue Lagoon (favorite dive sites for uw photographers)with our tailor-made diving boats, both you as a diver and your snorkeller friends would enjoy a water excursion for the day (sun bathing on the deck, in and out of the water as they please, coffee, tea and milo on board…)and to top it all every Tuesday and Friday we offer FREE Barbecue lunches for Snorkellers! Anyways, no matter what you choose, I am sure you will enjoy your holiday in Bali and Gili islands! Keep in touch…
Happy new year! my friends and i are going to bali on October. We are not divers, we just want to snorkel. Can you help with itinerary? Which areas are best for snorkeling? Can we see mola mola and manta rays just by snorkeling? Is October a good time to snorkel? We are willing to travel far and stay in one area for a couple of days to save on travel time. Can you also recommend the best area for beach-just relaxing, swimming and island hopping? Thank you so much!
Hi Joan, thank you very much for your message on Divezone.net and your email this morning. I have just replied with a perfect trip that I think you will like. Our Snorkelling trips to Blue Lagoon with Free Barbeque lunch are a guaranteed day of fun. I have provided lots of information and photos hoping that this will whet your appetite for snorkeling with AquaMarine. Also I have added some information about Introductory Dives in Tulamben Liberty Shipwreck, who knows? Maybe you feel like try diving in Bali! Joan, as for Nusa Penida, we only recommend this site for Advanced certified divers, we do focus on safety and enjoyment. But for your information, October is indeed a good time for diving in Nusa Penida to see the Mola Mola (weird and wonderful Ocean Sunfish) and they are usually seen approx at 30metres of depth. Joan, I look forward to continue communicating by email and to secure a great experience for you and you friend. Thank you.
Hia just came back home from Bali. Dived Amed and Tulamben and couple of other spots I cant recall the names now. Bali is amazing for the colours, soft corals and all macro life. Much more than I seen any other place before. i went with a fairly new dive centre http://www.bali2dive.com. Guys know what they are doing and all went good. Had a lot of fun so I definitely recommend them. Wish i had seen Mola Mola but now is not the season apparently.
Hi There! Traveling to Bali June 23-29 and was hoping to find a live aboard to jump on for 5 or 6 days. A departure out of Bali would be ideal but I’d be will to fly elsewhere in the country if it was the ideal itinerary! Any suggestions of reputable outfits would be much appreciated.
Hi Daniel. June is perfect to visit Bali and surrounding islands, to avoid the rainy season. You mentioned that you are looking for a Liveaboard, thats great! At AquaMarine Diving – Bali we have a section that handles specially enquiries for beyond Bali. And therefore we have access to many Liveaboard availabilities. The best would be to look at Komodo National Park for your trip, because is close to Bali and can be reached by a short flight. And the diving is amazing (Highlights: Manta Rays, macro species, big pelagics…) I have searched for you available options in Komodo as close as possible to your mentioned dates. And luckily there are some fantastic choices for you to consider. Such as Komodo Dancer (23 – 30 June) USD2,700 including free domestic flights!; Damai II (14 – 21 June) USD3,850 including free domestic flight and 4 nights Hotel in Bali!; Moana (20 – 25 June) USD1,730 including free domestic flights! and even Mangguana (23 – 29 June) USD1,944 including free domestic flights! I would be delighted to help if you need more details about the above. I hope what I have provided has caught your eye and that you will not hesitate in contacting me soon, I am just an email away. Thank you
Hi,
I wouls like to get the best diving out of Bali from 27th June – 15th July 2015. Happy to travel around to different divee sites. I read all the review and is very confused with the season and curren of different sites.
Does anyone has a good itinerary i can follow? I am an experienced diver, logged 300+ dives, but has a tiny feet and legs.
Hope to hear from someone soon.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Dor, good to know that you will be visiting Bali in June – July this year. It will be great timing to see the Mola Mola ocean sunfish! July being the beginning of high season you will have to choose your accommodation carefully (we can help with that) but otherwise those diving months are great! June along with April, September and November are the best seasons to dive in Bali and July is still very good. I understood you will be a solo traveller and you would like to know more about dive safaris to explore different sites in the island. Well, AquaMarine Diving – Bali can most definitely offer you fantastic safaris that you can join, such as; the Bali Most Wanted, or Beautiful Bali or the very popular Diving in Paradise! Contact us at Diving@AquaMarineDiving.com and we will happily assist you further.
Hi,
I am coming to Bali in early April, and I am an advanced open water diver. My brother is just an open water diver.
What dive spots would you reccomend? and can you help us make the reservations. We would like to see the big stuff.
Hi Simoni,
At AquaMarine Diving – Bali, we could most definitely organize your diving holiday for you.
The fact that you are diving with a novice diver, is not a problem, as Bali offers many dive site perfect for beginners and experienced divers alike, including Tulamben Bay USAT Liberty Shipwreck, Blue Lagoon, or Menjanggan and it’s fantastic wall diving and much more. Another option, would be for your brother to do his Advanced Open Water Course with us at Nusa Penida and Manta Point. A must see! Drop us a line at Diving@AquaMarineDiving.com and we would be happy to make this trip happen for you.
HI All ,
I am planning a day trip for scuba diving in june 1st week.
There will be two adults . both begginers. only know swimming.
I am planning for menjanggan or nusa lembongan.
Please suggest .
Good Day! We would love to welcome you to do your first dive with us here at Aqua Marine Diving – Bali. We can offer introductory dives at Menjangan, but it would require an overnight stay in the area. Not to worry, we can also arrange accommodation at very competitive rates for you. Alternatively, we can also offer day trips for an introductory dive in Tulamben, very popular due to the 120m USAT Liberty Shipwreck, or dive off a boat at Blue Lagoon. Drop us a line at diving@AquaMarineDiving.com and I would be very happy to make this trip happen for you.
Hi Amol,
We would like to offer you a Discover Scuba Diving program which is designed for non-certified divers who wants to experience scuba diving for a 1st time in a life.
This program we usually do it at Tulamben or Padang Bai, but if you prefer Lembongan, we can also offer you trip by speedboat to Nusa Penida and Lembongan.
You can write an email to: info@baliaqua.com for more information and also you can check about Bali Aqua Diving in Trip Adviser.
Warm Regards from Bali,
Branko
Hi guy’s,
My husband and I are divers who haven’t dived in a few years, our teenage kids 16 and 19 are just completing their open waters. We are looking to take them somewhere so that they can experience warm water with great viz for their first real dive experience. We are looking for family affordable accommodation that has a great pool and is very clean and quiet.I am reading as much as I can but a point in the right direction is what I need.We want to come around the 29th June for about 10 days. Im thinking that maybe if it affordable we myself and the two kids can do our advanced with someone. please can you give me some solid advice?
Hi,
In your case, I would recommend diving in Tulamben.
The easy access from the beach to the main 3 dives sites of the bay – the famous USAT Liberty Wreck, the Coral Garden and the Drop Off – combined with a mild or no current, make it a perfect destination for all level of divers and very convenient also for any type diving courses. The visibility is good and there is an extraordinary diversity of marine life.
Diving the Liberty Wreck is an amazing experience! You could also do a early morning dive or a night dive on the Liberty wreck in the scoop of your Advanced Course. An Advanced Course in family is indeed a great experience that will make you become more confident divers but also strengthen the bonds of the all family.
You can check further informations about bali dive destinations and bali dive sites on http://www.nicodivescool.com/#!destinations/c248p
and contact directly nicodivescool@gmail.com to get a personnalised offer/package diving & accommodation that suits you in the area of your choice. If you book before june, you will get a great discount (just mention divezone
Wherever you choose to dive in Bali, I’m quite sure that you won’t be disapointed.
Enjoy your diving trip on the island of Gods
wanna asking things about dive in bali
Email me
Thank u
Great instruction. I’m just an amateur diver. But I have always been interested in this activity. and I still need a lot of learning to enjoy these activities. sometimes the most difficult thing for me is to eliminate anxiety while in the water. maybe need more experience to it. I am very interested in the sites of Nusa Penida. according to most people, where it is one of the most excellent diving spots, one of which Manta Point. And I really want to dive on the site. But it seems that it is not a place you recommend for me who was new to learn diving. I will study hard and look for more experience for this activity, hingg one day I will go to Manta Point in Nusa Penida, for diving until satisfied and enjoy it.
Hi Jullien,
Really is a joy to see how passionate you are about diving and replying to each and everyone. Hope you can help me with the below query as well.
We are a group of 7 and we are travelling from India on the 14th of June. Essentially, we get 4 days in Bali and we want to explore the oceans as much as possible. But we need to start from scratch as we have only done some snorkeling in Phuket before
Hence, please suggest some diving sites thats good for beginners and also PADI certified training places. We are ideally looking for a complete package.
Regards,
George
Hello
I’m going invacation in August to Bali. I have the Advanced Adventure PADI.
Is possoble tell me the best places to dive im this time of the seasson (august).
Best regards
Hi Carlos, good to know that you will be visiting Bali in August. It will be great timing to see the Mola Mola ocean sunfish at Nusa Penida! Here at Aqua Marine Diving – Bali, we offer Day Trips across Bali, including Menjangan, Tulamben, Amed, Blue Lagoon and Nusa Penida. We also have fantastic dive safaris that you can join, such as our Bali Most Wanted, Beautiful Bali or the very popular Diving in Paradise! Contact us at Diving@AquaMarineDiving.com and we will happily assist you further.
Hi there,
Great website! My partner and I are going to Bali in mid june and we are looking to take the advance ow course. I had a looked at many diving school websites and I cannot really find the prices you are comenting in here. Could you recommend a good cheap price school for a backpacker budget please?
Many thanks,
Daniel
Hi, we are planning to go to Bali in September for diving. (we just got open water PADI license so are beginner divers). We would really want to see manta rays
– can i dive at manta point and the shipwhreck if we stay in Jimbaran area?
– are these 2 sites suitable for beginner divers?
Hello. My husband and I are traveling to Bali September 14-19. We would love to dive. We are currently booked at the Sheraton in Kuta for the first half of the trip and the W in Seminyak for the latter half. Could you recommend dive sites and companies that are close to those hotels? Ideally, we would like to dive for 3 days. We are PADI certified. Thank you!
Tracy
Dived at Pulau Menjangan area last december. Diving was alright, but wasnt really worth the 5hours ride from denpasar. It was recommended by a snorkelling friend, and i can see why. it wasnt much when we were deep, but got more beautiful as we ascend. currents were really strong too, its the first time i actually felt scared while diving.
will try diving at the east & south side of bali instead the next round
Hi,
Me and my girlfriend are coming to Bali on the 18th September. We have done the first part of the PADI course and just need to complete it when we get there.
I am having trouble deciding where to stay. We want to do 2 days diving but also want to enjoy the rest of Bali, restaurants bars etc… Are all the good dive sites far away from the main places to stay? I.e semenyek, kuta. Can you recommend some places and approx drive time to dive?
Thanks,
Hello,
Planning a trip to Bali and area for first time. Coming for a few weeks late Dec 2015 to mid Jan 2016. Rainy season eh?…
Haven’t determined exactly where to stay on island yet. Looking for the true beauty of island – i hear the water can get pretty murky this time of year with trash etc. Any recommendations for this time of year? Could consider a couple spots. This first part of trip 10 days is with non diver – will snorkel and perhaps even go up into mountains.
THEN….Jan 2nd – 10th will be solo and looking for this to be the dive portion of trip. Would a live aboard be something you would recommend? I am a PADI Rescue diver – but now only dives a few times a year. Love coral and underwater life in areas that are more exquisite and LESS accessible to the main stream travellers. Unfortunately most of my dive trips are solo but always the dive masters/shops take good care of me! Used to love the national geographic 5Star Padi shops for high caliber of gear, and areas to dive. Thinking live aboard could be an amazing way to travel multiple sites, be safe and just DIVE!!!!! Thanks all!!
I am also a solo diver, mostly. Is there any site in the cyberworld that we can get connected with other solo divers for dive trips?
Bonjour.
My friend and are planning a fun filled dive trip to bali. Can you give some advice as to where to stay and what to expect? We’re both very new to diving.
thanks a bunch
T
Hi,my husband (NAUI and PADI OSWI) and me, beginner (OW), are going to Bali from 2 to 9 January. We have 2 provisional bookings for accomodation in Pemuteran and Benoa, but we are undecided as to what the best is for diving, especially considering most blogs are discouraging about diving in January (we are planning to do 6-10 dives). We would appreciate any advice, thanks!
Hi Andrea,
There can be a fair bit of rain in January in Bali, but this should not discourage from diving. Tulamben and Northern Bali in general actually have calmer waters at this time of the year than during the peak season. The fact that there are also a lot less divers around this time also makes for some great encounters with wildlife.
Staying in Benoa means the dive sites are quite far. Pemuteran allows for some great macro dives. You may want to consider staying closer to the action in places like Padang Bai or Nusa Lembongan.
Drop us a line via email or check for more info.
I have some spare time this month & figure I can go down to Bali for diving between 17-23Dec. Wonder how is the visibility and temperature lately in the water?
If possible, I might even do a rescue course this trip…
Hi, I am an advanced open water diver looking for some awsome dives… I will be taking a cruise and will be in Benoa Bali from 8am March 16th -6pm on the 17th. I will also be arriving in Cairns, Australia at 8am on the 20th and staying for just that day, a little late to catch an organized trip. Any advise? Thanks, Judi
Hi Judy
I am the owner-operator of AquaMarineDiving.
You would need to find out approx what time you could actually disembark from the ship – it’ll be big and therefore not everyone can get off at 08:00
I’d also like to point out that March is not the best month to dive Bali – it’s fine, but your chosen dive company should be giving you advice as to where will, and will not, be better to dive.
I see that you have 2days/1night available:
From the morning of Wed 16 March
to 18:00 on Thu 17 March 2016.
Assuming you do not need/want to return to the ship to overnight on Wed 16 March, I would suggest that your first day is spent in Tulamben Bay.
As Tulamben offers shore-diving (including the 120M USAT Liberty Shipwreck, one of the world’s easiest wreck dives – actually more of an ‘artificial reef’, albeit a gloriously colourful one, than an actual ‘shipwreck’), you can easily do more than the usual 2-dives-a-day plus you could do a Night Dive – conditions permitting.
For your second day (Thu 17 March), I’d suggest you look at diving:
Either: Outside Padangbai/Candidasa.
Or: Over at Nusa Penida.
OR! You could simply stay at dive in Tulamben Bay for a second day – many divers stay there for weeks on end
Are you an uw photographer? If yes, make sure that whichever dive company you choose – you should send them your wishlist (including what you’re not interested in photographing).
If you did both days in Tulamben Bay, you could also do an Early Morning Dive (06:00ish) on the Liberty Shipwreck on Thu 17 March – very memorable
In fact Judi, even if you do want/need to return to the ship for overnight on Wed 16 March – I’d suggest you do the above two days for your diving. You’d just have less time available so so could fit in fewer dives.
Please note: I see you are an Adv OW Diver but you didn’t state your approx no of dives to date or approx date of last dive (I mean, how experienced and how regular a diver you are). Nusa Penida isn’t for nervous divers nor for the very inexperienced – I’m talking ‘Safety and Enjoyment’, not trying to put you off
I’m actually going to be away now until early February but you could contact my colleagues on Info@AquaMarineDiving.com if you would like further info/advice
I hope you have a great cruise, and fantastic diving in Bali (and Cairns – sorry I can’t advise for there)
Annabel
Guys, is diving in Nusa Penida a good idea for a 10 year old boy who has just got certified as Open Water Diver by PADI. He wants to see big fishes….and I have read in many blogs that the current is strong there. Please advise
My overall/general advice would be that a 10yo boy is too young and too inexperienced to be diving at Nusa Penida.
Remembering that he is also limited to 12m depth.
However, he would probably be okay at Manta Point: No particular depth issues and it’s surge-y rather than having currents.
The rest of Nusa Penida is pretty much only drift diving.
If you really have your heart set on diving at Nusa Penida, I would suggest that you look at spending a couple of nights on Nusa Lembongan (the neighbouring island, it has a variety of accom) and actually doing your diving through a dive company on Nusa Lembongan. Contact them in advance, explaining the situation, and they would probably be able to accommodate you.
I’d suggest you contact either World Diving or Two Fish over there. Both are safe and reputable companies.
Annabel (owner of a dive company on mainland Bali
)
Hello there,
First I’d like to thank you for such an amazing informative website.
I am expecting a trip to Bali by the end of May, something 20ish; is it a good season for diving at this time of the year?
And of course, the reason I posted this is that I have never done Diving before and due to the fact that I will be staying in Bali for 5-6 days, is it possible to scuba dive i.e by staying with professionals and so?
Your suggestions and/or comments would be highly appreciated.
Tariq
Thank you very much Julien. This site has helped me so much on planning dive trips. Information about characteristics of regional dive sites was really crucial. Thanks again.
Hello Team,
I’m looking at 4-5Nights of diving in Bali Starting June 28th 2016 before i head over to Komodo for 5 Nights. Just noting down a few details:
I’ve done my SSI advanced open water and have 13 Logged Dives 3 months ago.
Things/preferences in diving:
At least 4 dives covering the liberty ship wreck.
Do you recommend diving in Nusa Pendia for Manta or should i save that for Komodo? I thought i should do a few dives here to better prepare me for the currents in Komdo.
Apart from this i prefer dives with big schools of fish, turtles, sharks, etc. Not a too big fan of muck diving. Definitely want to do a drift dive and completely open to suggestions
Could you please suggest a budget friendly center which can give me an all inclusive package? (Travel+Stay – Dorm/Single – + Diving + Gear)
Thanks!
Hi
PLUS Nusa Penida offers drift-diving – which is what you can expect to encounter some of the time when diving around Komodo Nat Pk.
You are correct, in my opinion – 13 logged dives from 3mths ago is not sufficient experience before you head-off to dive around Komodo National Park, so I think it’s an excellent idea that you do some diving in Bali beforehand: Good plan!
I agree with you that some (you said four) dives in Tulamben Bay, for the 120m USAT Liberty Shipwreck, would be a good start: You could also stay overnight there so you could do a Night Dive. I am pretty sure you’ll be given the opportunity to Night Dive in Komodo Nat Pk so a good idea to do one here in Bali (in nice conditions, from the shore).
And I also think it would be a great idea for you to dive at Nusa Penida. And yes, I think you should include Manta Point: Even if you see Mantas in Komodo, you can never see too many
Your cheapest option would very probably be to contact two separate dive centres:
– One in Tulamben Bay
and
– One in Padangbai (on the east coast)
Alternatively, we (AquaMarine Diving – Bali) would be delighted to put together the entire package for you
We are not the cheapest but we keep to a max ratio of 4 divers with one Dive Guide (PADI Divemaster or above) and believe in “Safety & Enjoyment”
Whatever you decide to do, I sincerely hope you have a great time in both Bali and Komodo!
Annabel (founder and owner-operator of AMD-B)
We are pck of 3 guys planning for a scuba dive in Bali in mid-July.
As we are beginners kindly suggest us with an attractive price .
Hi Yashus
Great to hear you and two friends are coming to Bali in mid-July and would like to do a scuba dive.
You said “a” scuba dive – so I guess you want to do 1 Day Trip.
If I am correct, then I suggest you go to Tulamben Bay on Bali’s north east coast: Tulamben is where you find the 120 metre USAT Liberty Shipwreck – Bali’s most popular place to dive.
My company, AquaMarine Diving – Bali, would be very happy to help you arrange your Day Trip to Tulamben Bay.
Or, if you want to do some more days of diving, or take a PADI course, we can do that too!
Annabel (owner)
Hey! My friend and I are coming to Bali next week. We both have no diving certificate but have done multiple fun dives, which is what we would like to do again. We are keen on saying turtles, manta rays and/or mola mola, surprise surprise! We only have time to dive once or twice. Which one is the easiest to see? Any place where they swim together or diving sites nearby? And around what time of the day can they usually be seen? I saw places for the manta rays and mola mola mentioned on this website but not for turtles, what is he best place for that? I really hope you could give us some advises on what we could best do
thank you!!!
Hi Myrthe,
It is awesome news you and your friend are coming over to Bali next week
If you have no certificate and would like to see Turtles I would recommend, diving at Tulamben Bay, you would have the chance to dive at the wonderful USAT Liberty Shipwreck and see turtles in the morning. To see the Mantas and Mola-Mola you would have to be a certified Advanced Open Water Diver, the dive sites where you can see those require skill and experience and you won’t be able to dive there in an Intro Dive.
Don’t loose your hopes just yet! You mentioned that you have done multiple fun dives, I reckon those might be Introductory Dives as we call it here, so you like it very much don’t you? Why not to spare a little bit of time in your holiday for a PADI Open Water Course and become a certified diver? That would open a variety of diving spots for you and your friend and if you really love it you could upgrade it to a PADI Advanced Open Water Course and that is when you could dive at Nusa Penida and Crystal Bay and see the Mantas and the Mola-Mola.
My company, AquaMarine Diving – Bali, would be very happy to help you arrange your Introductory Dive at Tulamben Bay, or if you want to take it to the next level and take a PADI course, we would be glad to assist
Hey Vini- yes, I would like more information but i believe I had send an information request through your aquamarine diving website. If your not them, then please provide some information regarding diving packages including accommodations. thanks
Hi Ed,
I have just checked with the team and they have already received your inquiry.
They are working on your reply now.
Hope to see you in Bali soon !
Vini – AquaMarine Diving – Bali
Hi,
Thanks for putting in some great info on diving. Since this is a special trip for us, I want to make this a memorable one. We are a couple with an 8 yr old kid, wanting to experience our first dive in Bali. Pls suggest a few places for beginners. We will be staying in Kuta and we have only a day for diving :(.
PS: my wife and kid don’t even swim!
Hi,
I’m intending to take an open water course in Bali during 30th Jan to 3rd Feb 2017.
Any recommendations for a good dive resort? for a group of 5-7?
Would be good if there was a package that includes course+accom+food.
Hi!
Please check this page : http://divezone.net/best-diving-centers-bali
You’ll find fellow divers reviews on a lot of the dive center! Hopefully it helps you pick one! Also, there’s lots of packages like you mentioned, you’ll have a lot to choose from but it goes with your personal preferences!
Thank you! Please don’t hesitate to share your review with us after your trip and… Happy bubbles!
Hi,
With a large group like that just make sure to have 2 instructors as this will make for a more comfortable time for all. Packages can easily be arranged. My recommendation would be to choose a place where you can stay in the same village and do all components of the course including Open Water dives without having to commute long distances… I have Amed, Tulamben or Padang Bai in mind!
You’re welcomed to send me an email for more info
I gave my honest opinion that the liberty ship wreck was over rated and my comment was taken down. I understood this forum was to communicate information not a used as marketing tool for the diving industry of the areas it represents. What is up guys?????
Hi Lindsay,
I moderate the comments and if one of your comment was deleted or changed it’s because it contained a link or inappropriate content. That being said, by deduction, I think that the comment you’re talking about is right at the bottom of this page… isn’t?
This one you posted as a reply to Wayne, Me and Geko Dive Bali, but the first one you posted as a new comment so it’s right there at the bottom of the page.
Hope all is well!
Hi,
We were lucky enough to book tickets to Bali in Dec 11 though out till Christmas. Within this period of time we would love to complete the open water diving course and take a chance to see the giant mantas in their habitat as well as big fish and turtles. In respect of only 3 dives been made before in the life time would appreciate your time to answer couple of questions.
How many days should be reserved for this purpose? Is it possible to split course and do dives every 2nd day? Which school do you recommend for the beginners with high ambitions to see big fish? The best time would be the second half of vacation after we have seen the main attraction island has to present on earth
Thanks a lot in advance,
Anna
Hi Anna,
Reserve 3 days for the dive course and one day to go to Manta Point once certified as this cannot be included in the beginner course.
There are plenty of dive centers on the island. Do focus on the ones that actively promote safety in diving and stay away from dodgy operators. Choosing a dive centre from Padang Bai, you will be able to dive both Padang Bai and Tulamben’s USAT Liberty shipwreck on the same course.
Most dive schools should be Ok with splitting the course up so you can have some days doing different things. For best learning and enjoyment, I’d recommend doing 2 days in a row (theory and confined water on day 1 then 2 dives on day 2), have a day off then finish the course with the last 2 open water dives.
You’re welcomed to send me an email if you need more info.
Cedric from Geko Dive Bali
Thanks Cedric, i will try now to find your email address. Generally i like the plan very much. Just as we had a bit feeling of diving in the calm waters ( me in Egypt 2 times & Tailand 1 time, Ralph 1 time in Tailand) seating in the pool for half a day sounds not yet absolutly inspiring
Hi Anna,
Open Water Courses are usually offered at both Blue Lagoon or Tulamben Bay dive spots.
You can take the course over 3 days which are
Day 1 : Class + Pool
Day 2 : Open Water Dives 1 & 2 (Usually at Tulamben)
Day 3 : Open Water Dives 3 & 4 (Usually at Blue Lagoon).
We do recommend an overnight at Tulamben after the first day of diving, and checking out next day before the dives at Blue Lagoon, after course conclusion, BBQ lunch at Padangbai :).
Just let me know should you need any more information or assistance.
Vini from AquaMarine Diving – Bali
Hello,
I understand March isn’t the best time to dive in Bali, but that’s sadly when my holidays land.
I’m a newly certified Open Water PADI diver (as in I only have my 4 training dives logged as of Jan. 1, but am confident, safe and skilled with swimming). What dive sites am I qualified to visit, and which ones would be best for this time of year?
I would indeed like to take the Advanced Open Water course, if it works out, but mostly I am looking to see the interesting marine life Bali has to offer and log some more dives!
Thank you so much for any tips sent my way!
Dear Vicki,
That is great you are coming to Bali in March and would like to increase your diving experience here in Bali.
Being an Open Water Diver enables you to dive off Menjangan Island, Tulamben Bay (USAT Liberty Shipwreck), Tulamben area, and outside Tulamben Area, Amed and Blue Lagoon.
You can definitely take the Advanced Open Water Course even as part of a mini safari, which would take you firstly to Open Water Dive spots and then lastly to Advanced Spots, Nusa Penida for example, where you can see Manta Rays in March and in late July the Mola-Mola Fish.
If you would like more information, you are more then welcome to send us an email.
Vini from AquaMarine Diving – Bali
Dear Vini,
I am planning a trip to Java and Bali for next summer. What spots would you recommend me if I want to take the Open Water Diver around Bali (and the islands nearby)?
I did my discover scuba in Sardinia and did some snorkelling in Egypt.
Thanks for your precious help,
Christelle
I’m actually really concerned about the coral bleaching that just happened. I heard it was especially the case in Pemuteran and in Menjangan. It is that bad in Penida and Tulamben Bay as well?
Thanks in advance!
Christelle
Hi Christelle,
No, in Tulamben and Nusa Penida the coral bleaching is even close to how it is up in Menjangan.
The bleaching is minimal in Nusa Penida and Tulamben and if you are looking at shallow water corals in a couple of feet of water that do not benefit from the cold thermoclines deeper corals benefit from.
Vini – AquaMArine Diving – Bali
Dear Christelle,
I would surely recommend:
Blue Lagoon/Jepun (5mins off Padangbai, boat dive) and Tulamben Bay, shore dives 2hr 30mins from South Bali.
Blue Lagoon is a very easy dive site and still offers a lot to be seen in there other then areas much closer to South Bali, the white sand bottom, which slopes gradually to 22m, has scattered rocks, soft corals and a huge area of staghorn coral. The fish life is amazing!The area is home to several kinds of reef shark, rays, stonefish, moray and blue ribbon eels, cuttlefish, nudibranches, squid and octopus, leaf scorpion fish in every. The diving at Blue Lagoon is easy, but experienced divers and photographers also thoroughly enjoy the site. Visibility is 15-20m, there is sometimes a little surge and a mild current but the bay is fairly protected, making it perfect for Discovery Dives and also OW Course Dives.
Tulamben Bay, like the rest of Bali, is situated in the richest marine biogeographic zone: the Indo-Pacific. Due to Tulamben’s location on Bali’s northeast coast, the Indonesian Throughflow supplies the bay with very plankton-rich waters. This, together with the different physical environments within the gives Tulamben a remarkably diverse underwater ecosystem.
The 120m USAT Liberty Shipwreck lies 20m oofshore and offers extraordinary density of marinelife, which includes Clown frogfish, Bumphead parrotfish, a huge school of Big-eyed trevally, Leaf Scorpionfish and pygmy seahorses.
The Coral garden, which runs eastwards from the Shipwreck, provides wonderful shallow dives. You can expect to see a wide selection of marinelife from Thecacera nudibranchs, Harlequin shrimps and Boxer crabs, to frogfish and Ribbon eels in all stages of development.
I would be more then happy to help you organize that if you need me too, send us an email and I can get to you all details you need.
Vini – AquaMarine Diving – Bali
I just did a dive trip with Manta Manta Diving to Tulamben. Can’t recommend them highly enough. They really know their diving and their way around these amazing dive sites. Saw bump head parrot fish, sting rays, turtles and our guide said he saw a whale shark the day after Christmas at the Drop Off dive site. Can’t wait to get back to Bali to do some more diving.
hi,
i want to dive in bali in mid october. i have had a couple of dives at the great barrier reef so have seen lots of corals. i have also done a manta ray dive at kona and another dive in monterey with kelps. i would like to see something new. the Liberty dive isn’t possible because of Mt. Agung. what dive site would you recommend so that i can have a different experience. if the corals and fishes are different, then i wouldn’t mind doing a dive there.
Hi Dheer Shah!
I can’t think of anything better than what has been suggested by Vini… Indeed, seeing a Mola Mola is on all of our dive list and from what I know, only a few lucky divers can say they swam along one! I would definitely take a shot as you happen to be there in the right season!
Thank you Vini for the great response!
Safe bubbles!
Dear Dheer Shah,
I would definitely recommend diving at Nusa Penida/Manta Point/Mola-Mola Areas …
It’s October now and Bali is still at Mola-Mola season. If you are looking for something different that’s exactly where you should go :), seeing a Mola-Mola is at most of us divers wish list and since you are coming here, don’t miss the oportunity.
If you would like more information, you are more then welcome to send us an email.
Vini from AquaMarine Diving – Bali
Hi, I’m planning on going to Bali From March 27 to april 3 2018. I’m looking for diving 3 days and exploring Bali the rest. Looking for accommodations and diving packages, would like to be picked up from the airport. any suggestions.
thanks
Hi Ed!
The dates you mention are during what I would call the “Shoulder season” in Bali. Can’t predict much the weather nor the diving conditions. That being said… you can get great sighting of Manta around Bali I think, but mostly in Komodo… if you’ve got the chance to go there, I would!
Other wise, lot’s of dive centers on Bali’s east coast have amazing accommodations and offers packages with a great deal of scuba diving! Check them here : divezone.net / diving-center
Ps. Travel wise, don’t miss on Ubud… it’s simply beautiful!
Safe bubbles!
Hi Ed,
Since you are coming here for 7 days I would advise to make it the best of your time and start diving from Day 2 (March 28), I would definitely recommend diving the world famous USAT Liberty Shipwreck First, then Nusa Penida/Manta Point (so many Mantas at times, you can’t even count), and then for the last day of diving perhaps you should try Mimpang/Tekekong? March will be good timing here because you will still benefit from lower prices from hotels since we will still be on low season. For the rest of your trip you could go on land tours here and see the upside of Bali. Tanah Lot (for an incredible sunset at the temple), Uluwatu (for the Cliffs and seafood), Ubud (for the art and the monkey forest), there is so much to be seen ! If you are on to a little bit more of adrenaline, I would say White water rafting and trekking are a must !
We would be happy to assist you with diving, accommodation and transfers and tours as well.
Let us know if you need any more information.
Vini – AquaMarine Diving – Bali
I dove the liberty in Feb 2017. I was not impressed at all with it. I guess Cozumel has spoiled me with the vibrant colours. Sail Rock in Thailand was not very impressive unless you like to dive with 100’s of other divers. These sites all seem to be over rated.