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
Bali combines shore-access wrecks, volcanic-sand macro dives and current-swept island reefs. Its variety is the attraction: a relaxed east-coast holiday and a Nusa Penida drift-diving trip can feel like two different destinations.
Selected sites around Amed, Padang Bay, and Pulau Menjangan can suit training and less-experienced divers when local conditions are suitable. A region’s reputation for easy diving is not a guarantee of a current-free dive.
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.
Photo credit: original photographer on Flickr
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!
Bali also has rewarding places for snorkelling especially on the East Coast from Padang Bay to Amed.
Visibility changes with the site, tide, swell and recent rain. Clear-water walls and sandy macro sites offer very different experiences; a single island-wide maximum is not useful for planning.
In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in Bali.
Table of contents
Best Dive Review
Six Bali dive-site references
This map separates dive-site geography from the cruise routes. Positions are approximate planning references, not a guide for use underwater; Menjangan is an island reference rather than one particular dive.
- USAT Liberty (-8.27396, 115.59307): Wreck off Tulamben; shore-entry conditions matter. Location source.
- Manta Point (-8.79547, 115.52553): Exposed southwest Penida cleaning-station site. Location source.
- Crystal Bay (-8.71547, 115.45627): Penida reef slope; current and depth shape the outing. Location source.
- Blue Lagoon (-8.52914, 115.51416): Sand and scattered coral outside Padangbai. Location source.
- Menjangan Island reference (-8.09660, 114.51103): Island reference for northwest wall diving, not an exact mooring. Location source.
- Seraya Secrets (-8.29470, 115.61097): Volcanic-sand macro site southeast of Tulamben. Location source.
Location references checked 9 November 2026.
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, Pemuteran, Lovina, Gilimanuk).
A base makes a bigger difference than a checklist
Amed and Tulamben suit repeated east-coast dives without a long drive each morning. Sanur offers a southern base for organised day trips; staying on Nusa Penida or Lembongan gives more time close to the island reefs. Pemuteran works naturally for the northwest and Menjangan. A holiday that tries to cover all of them in a few days can spend a surprising amount of time in a car.
- USAT Liberty: a coral-covered wreck reached from Tulamben.
- Manta Point: an exposed Penida site associated with manta cleaning activity.
- Crystal Bay: reef slopes and seasonal sunfish possibilities, with current and depth shaping the dive.
- Seraya Secret and Secret Bay: a different pace for photographers interested in small animals.
What does diving cost in 2026?
These are named operator examples checked on 9 November 2026, not a promise that every Bali centre charges the same. Local shore diving and a day trip with transport have different costs.
| Example | Published price per person | Included or additional |
|---|---|---|
| Bali Reef Divers, Amed/Tulamben | IDR 1,250,000 for 2 dives in one day | Guide, equipment, tank fee and 10% tax included. Boat dives require at least two people and add IDR 150,000–250,000 per person. |
| Crystal Divers, Tulamben day trip | IDR 2,500,000 for 2 dives | Standard equipment, short wetsuit, lunch, snacks, towel, instructor and transport from Sanur. |
| Crystal Divers, Nusa Penida/Manta Point | IDR 3,500,000 for 3 dives | Same published standard inclusions; a long wetsuit or premium computer is IDR 200,000 per item per person per day. |
Accommodation, flights and any extras outside the quoted programme remain separate. Julien’s original advice still stands: comfort with the guide and a clear understanding of the day are worth more than choosing solely by the cheapest headline.
Sources: Bali Reef Divers 2026 rates; Crystal Divers prices and inclusions.
Liveaboards leaving Bali
Bali is also a gateway for longer cruises east towards Komodo. Mermaid I and Mermaid II have separate boat reviews with route and cabin details. The booked sailing determines whether the holiday returns to Bali or ends elsewhere.
Compare Indonesia liveaboard departures. Affiliate link: Divezone may earn a commission if you book.
Two cruise route families from Bali
These Mermaid programme examples show the difference between a return cruise and a one-way journey. They are not local day-boat routes. Numbered stops show order; connections are schematic regional links, not navigation tracks or guaranteed dive stops.
| Route | Ordered stops | Flights and transfers |
|---|---|---|
| Bali–Komodo loop | Benoa, Bali → Saleh Bay → Komodo → Bali | Return to Bali; exact embarkation arrangements depend on the departure. |
| Bali–Komodo–Maumere | Benoa, Bali → Saleh Bay → Komodo → Maumere | Different finish airport; reverse departures also occur. |
Reviewed 9 November 2026: Mermaid itineraries and transfer arrangements.
Routes are listed in the table above.
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, but the season changes the kind of trip. May to November is a useful broad planning window for many sites, while rainy-season diving remains possible with flexible daily choices. Rainfall, swell and underwater temperature do not follow one neat island-wide calendar.
| Priority | Useful timing | The trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Varied reef and wreck diving | May–November as a broad starting point | Conditions still vary between coasts and individual sites. |
| Sunfish around Nusa Penida | Usually July–October | Cooler upwellings and suitable current conditions matter; sightings are never assured. |
| Manta encounters | Possible year-round | Access to exposed sites depends on swell and wind; April or May is not the only useful window. |
| Warmer Penida water | Often November–May | Rain and sea conditions can still alter a day’s programme. |
Seasonal references, checked 9 November 2026: PADI Bali, PADI Nusa Penida and Purple Dive Penida’s local conditions.
Photo credit for the existing Bali image: original photograph on Flickr.
Top liveaboards in Bali according to divers reviews
Dive courses
Bali offers introductory experiences and full certification courses, but a famous drift site is not automatically a suitable classroom. Selected east-coast and sheltered sites can leave more attention for buoyancy, equipment and the pleasure of a first reef dive. Training time, language, instructor-to-student ratio and the weather fallback are useful parts of the conversation.
As a dated example, Crystal Divers lists its Open Water Level 1 package at IDR 7,000,000 per person; its published table does not include e-learning or the certification e-card in that tier. Higher packages include different services, so the course total matters more than the first price displayed.
Course packages and inclusions, checked 9 November 2026. A refresher can be a worthwhile first day after a long break, before moving on to colder or stronger-current sites.
Scuba Diving conditions
Warm island, sometimes surprisingly cold dives
Nusa Penida is the important exception to a simple “tropical water” packing list. Purple Dive Penida reports roughly 26–28°C (79–82°F) from November to May, with some sites falling below 20°C (68°F) in June–October. The operator supplies 5 mm suits and has hoods available. These are local observations, not a temperature guarantee across Bali; recent site reports help determine suitable exposure protection.
Currents around Penida and the offshore Candidasa islands can be demanding, while selected sheltered sites offer gentler alternatives. Certification, recent experience, depth, swell and the entry or exit all matter. The Liberty wreck’s shore access is convenient, but a rocky entry in waves is not automatically easy.
Local temperature, equipment and operating guidance.
Snorkelling in Bali
Travelling with a non-diver?
Bali makes it quite easy for companions to share the holiday without sharing every dive. An east-coast stay can combine selected snorkelling outings with time ashore; a Penida boat day needs a more specific conversation about conditions and supervision.
OK Divers lists Padangbai snorkelling at IDR 400,000 per person, with mask, snorkel and fins and tax/service charges included. It can run separately with at least two people. Most other listed snorkelling trips join the dive group; the standard activity is unguided. A private guide for two snorkel sessions costs IDR 500,000, for up to seven snorkellers. Meals and refreshments depend on the trip. These published prices were checked on 9 November 2026.
OK Divers snorkelling prices and supervision conditions. A non-diving passenger should not be assumed to have a free berth, a dedicated guide or suitable water access at every dive stop.
Fishes and Coral
The waters around Bali are rich and colourful, with very different habitats on the same holiday: coral slopes, wreck surfaces and volcanic sand. The big stars are sunfish and mantas, but macro lovers and critter hunters have plenty to enjoy between the headline encounters. Reef condition varies; no photograph makes every reef pristine.
Sunfish
A cooler-season possibility around Penida; the reef is still worth the dive when none appears.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Manta
An encounter associated with Penida’s cleaning sites, when sea conditions allow access.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Frogfish
A master of camouflage that rewards slow looking on macro dives.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Anemonefish
Small reef residents with plenty of character close to their host anemone.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Nudibranch
A colourful reminder that a small subject can fill a whole dive’s conversation.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Sea snake
A marine reptile photographed in Bali; space to move freely makes the encounter better for both visitor and animal.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Sharing the water respectfully
The marine-park code-of-conduct film linked by Purple Dive Penida. Wildlife encounters work best without touching, chasing, feeding or crowding animals.
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.
Bali diving questions
Is Bali suitable for a first diving holiday?
Yes, with a centre that chooses suitable training or guided sites for your experience and the day’s conditions. That does not make every Penida drift or offshore Candidasa site a beginner dive.
Is the water always warm?
No. Nusa Penida can have cold upwellings, including water below 20°C in the cooler season. Recent local reports and the planned sites determine appropriate exposure protection.
When are sunfish most likely?
July to October is a useful seasonal window around Nusa Penida, but an encounter depends on the water, current and animal behaviour.
Does a liveaboard replace a Bali stay?
Not necessarily. A cruise departing Bali may spend much of its time travelling towards Komodo. A Bali-based holiday gives more time for the island’s shore dives and land experiences.
Can non-divers join the boat?
Some operators sell specific snorkelling places, with their own fare and supervision conditions. The actual operator and outing determine acceptance; a dive booking does not automatically include a companion.
Planning the final dive day
The last dives need to leave an appropriate interval before flying or travelling to altitude. DAN’s guidance distinguishes dive profiles and assumes divers are symptom-free; individual medical questions belong with a qualified professional.
DAN flying-after-diving guidance. Cover for the planned diving, emergency oxygen and the operator’s evacuation arrangements are useful checks before departure.
Original guide by Julien; facts and practical examples reviewed 9 November 2026. Original photo credits and reader experiences retained.
Photos Bali
-
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 -
What Is This Small CreaturePhoto by Jihye Lee -
Catfish CloseupPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Squid Next To Underwater StructuresPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Funny Looking Yellow Scorpion FishPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Barracuda Alone In The Blue SeaPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Octopus In ReefPhoto 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!
Pemuteran, Lovina
Pemuteran combines shore-access restoration reefs, short boat dives and rewarding macro excursions. Lovina is a separate north-coast base; Puri Jati and Secret Bay offer a different, sand-and-critter diving day.
Padang Bai
Padang Bai rewards close looking: sandy slopes, reef fish and tiny macro subjects near Blue Lagoon and Jepun, with more demanding offshore dives available when conditions suit.
Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan
Manta cleaning stations, seasonal sunfish and lively coral drifts make Penida and Lembongan memorable. The best dive is the one matched to the current, swell and experience of the group.
Menjangan Island
Menjangan’s reef shelves and coral-covered walls reward unhurried diving and snorkelling from mainland bases in northwest Bali. Clear water and sea fans are part of the appeal, with profiles and site choices matched to conditions and experience.
Candidasa
Candidasa’s offshore islets offer dramatic walls, schooling fish and reef-shark encounters, with seasonal sunfish possibilities. Strong, changeable currents make Tepekong, Mimpang and Biaha outings for suitably experienced divers and careful local planning.
Amed
Amed combines volcanic-sand macro dives, shallow reef gardens, artificial reefs and deeper walls. Shore entries and short jukung trips make a rewarding east-Bali base, with sites chosen for experience and conditions rather than a promise of current-free diving.
Liveaboard Reviews in Bali
MV Samambaia
MV Samambaia is a beautiful looking vessel from the fleet of Samambaia Komodo Liveaboards. Travelling the waters of Indonesia to the very best diving locations, she is designed with comfort and safety in mind. Indonesia itself is located in the
MS Ombak Putih
The 42 meters Ombak Putih sails the waters of Indonesia as a traditional phinisi liveaboard vessel. Built in 1995 and thoroughly renovated in 2015, the Ombak Putih is not like the usual liveaboard. Indeed, it offers cultural immersion cruises, with sno
MV Blue Manta
MV Blue Manta is the largest, most sumptuous vessel of the famous White Manta fleet. White Manta Fleet operate through Asia in most of the most desirable scuba destinations. The Forgotten Islands, Komodo and Raja Ampat are legendary in the scuba divi
MV Indo Aggressor
MV Indo Aggressor – formely known as the ‘Komodo Dancer’ – is one of the vessels of the world famous Aggressor Fleet. Aggressor Fleet are a USA based company with extensive international experience. With a vessel in almost every highly desirable diving
KLM Sea Safari VII
Sea Safari VII suffered a serious fire near Pulau Penga, Labuan Bajo, on 2 May 2024. This page preserves the earlier boat profile and reader discussion; it is no longer a current booking recommendation. Sea Safari VII does not appear in the operator’s
KM Bidadari
The 37 meters Bidadari is a liveaboard cruising the waters of Indonesia. Indeed, the traditional wooden phinisi offers itineraries to Bali, Lombok, Raja Ampat, Amba, Flores, Komodo, etc. The Bidadari use to offer schedule cruises but as of 2017, the bo
Seaisee
The Seaisee is a liveaboard boat offering scuba diving cruises in Indonesia. Indeed, the 45 meters yacht was renovated in 2019 and offer itineraries all over the archipelago. Destinations include Bali, Komodo, the Banda Sea, as well as the remote Raja
Hi, we are going to Bali 3 weeks in July 2018. We are in the mid 50´ties and have never dived before. We plan to take OW-certificate during our stay. During our stay we are going to Nusa Lembongan and Gili Islands.
Where would you recommend us to take the OW ?
After receiving of the OW – could you recommend us where to stay for diving and relaxing for 4-5 days ? Any suggestions
Thanks
Hi Allan,
Diving in Gilis is also not as nice as around Bali in my opinion, but it might be worth for 1 or 2 fun dives after your course.
I would recommend to do the course while staying on mainland Bali, where you can do the course in 3 days, with prior theory preparation. During your course you can visit some great easy dive sites as Blue Lagoon near Padangbai or the famous USAT Liberty Shipwreck in Tulamben. After completing the course I would suggest treating yourself with some relaxing time in Lembongan or Gilis.
Lembongan is not a ideal place for beginners as the currents are too strong on most of the dive sites.
Manta point is worth a visit but I think that you for sure will enjoy it more once you are certified diver.
If you want to go to the Gilis please chose the island (there are 3) carefully as you probably do not want to end up in a party place.
If you need any further information, you are more then welcomed to send us an email.
Adriana – AquaMarine Diving – Bali
Hi Adriana
Thank you for your quick response
Would you recommend us to cancel Gili and instead find a place in Bali to both take the OW-certificate and relaxing by the beach ? Is that possible in Padangbai / Tulamben / maybe another fantastic diving site ?
Would you recommend Lovina, Pemuteran, Amed over Gili Islands for beginners and in a combination of relaxing by the beach and diving?
Thank you
Hi Allan,
honestly, while Bali is nicer for diving it is not a typical beach relaxing destination. The beaches in south of Bali are a bit crowded and the ones in diving areas are not typical beaches (e.g. Tulamben is big black stones beach).
Closest to classical beach holiday would be Amed.
I would say, stay first few days in the south (perhaps in Sanur – the least crowded place and nice to stay), do the course out of there(you can still visit the dive sites in Tulamben, Amed or Padangbai during the course – simply as day dive trips). Then go to Gili Air (definitely not Gili Trawangan) for few days for a nice relaxing beach holiday. The speedboats to Gilis start from Sanur directly as well. Maybe do 1 fun diving day to practice the new skills (there is lot of turtles around Gilis – but not much else) and enjoy doing nothing.
Depends on how much days in total you got, you could then visit Ubud for some cultural experience or Lembongan for more beach relaxing.
Feel free to ask more.
Adriana – AquaMarine Diving – Bali
Looks like I am at right place for all my questions related to my upcoming Bali trip ! Nice writeup, still reading through it..
I am reaching Bali on 25th January 2018. I would stay in Seminyak for first 3-4 days. Where my plan is to indulge in some water sports and visit Tanah lot , Uluwatu temples.
I want to try out diving (I have never done diving before) and need recommendation on sites/vendors. When I read above that months of December, Jan and Feb are not the best ones for diving, I am even more confused about it. I read somewhere that Tulamben is good for beginners but is closed now (and probably not recommended in this weather). And from above article i think Komodo is better choice during this time of the year? Given my accommodation in Seminyak and being a first timer what would you recommend me for Scuba diving? I read that Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan are not the best options for beginners, is that true?
I also need some suggestions on the Day cruise to Nusa Lembongan or fast boat to Nusa Penida with my family and friends? I liked the pics of Nusa penida but I am not sure if I would get access to that private pool over there or even if this is a great time to go there or not? Or do you think Nusa Lembongan day cruise is better option? I am planning water sports separately.
Do we have some nice Dolphin experience options in Bali? How is Dolphin Lodge bali? Is it worth it?
For rest of my trip, I would stay in Ubud to try out some trekking and white water rafting.
Hello Vaibhav,
Seminyak is a good choice to start your trip especially when you are planning to visit Tanah Lot and Uluwatu. The area is also much less crowded compared to Kuta but you can still find plenty options of hotels and restaurants.
It is great to know that you want to try out diving. What I would reccomend for you is the Introductory Dive/Discover Scuba Dive trip. This is a 1 day dive trip for people who either do not have time for a full PADI Open Water Diver course or who would just like a taste of scuba diving.
For beginner diver, Blue Lagoon (Padangbai) or Tulamben will be the most suitable choice. As of this stage Tulamben is closed for overnight stay but people are still diving regularly in the area as part of daytrip.
Rainy season in Komodo will be expected until at least the beginning of April. If you are looking for great Months in Komodo, I would suggest June/July because the waters tend to be more calm by then.
Nusa Penida/Lembongan condition can be a bit tricky and quite hard to predict therefore most reputable dive centres normally reccomend this area for Advanced Divers.
If you are aiming for the Angel’s Billabong (the natural pool) you may contact baliseaview.com/private-boat/ from what I heard they can arrange daytrips or just transfers.
For great Dolphin experience (the ones not caged) I would suggest heading to Lovina. What you need to do is overnight in the area and then catch the early morning (06.00) local outrigger from Lovina beach for dolphin sightings. Prepare enough cash for snacks and local fees.
For trekking Mount Batur will be worth your journey. We are affiliated with a local ranger that may take you to the hotspring enroute.
As for White Water Rafting, Ayung river is mainly for beginner. If you wish to get your adrenaline pumping, go for Telaga Waja.
Let me know if you need further information.
Rio – AquaMarine Diving – Bali
Amazing ! Thanks a ton for answering most of my questions and making it lot easier for me. So a few more for you..
What do you think would be a better one to start diving with – Padangbai or Tulamben? Esp. for a beginner like me who would want to continue with the great experience ad even certification during my future trips.
Sorry for not being clear about my other question – My question is — Which one out of these 2 shall I pick given that I can only choose one ! – 1. A day trip to Nusa Lembongan 2. A day trip to Nusa Penida.
I am not sure why but I am slightly more inclined towards Nusa penida as of now, but I can still replan if the otherwise makes more sense. But then I wanted to understand if I would be able to have a sort of customized trip where I can see klingking beach viewpoint, Broken bridge, Angel’s billabong, Peguyangan waterfall etc. as I am not much interested in snorkelling, fishing or even some great lunch.
I was checking baliseaview and one of their tours look good to me but then *a trip advisor review* raised some concerns.
I would rethink about my Dolphin experience plan given the distance that I need to travel.
Great to know about the trekking thing, could you please share any details of the person whom I need to contact?
Thanks for replying to my queries with so much patience. That’s really helpful to me in planning.
*Comment edited – we don’t accept links!*
Hello Vaibhav,
Between the 2 sites, both is good in terms of being a beginner diver. If I were you, I will more likely consider the travel time and what each sites offers.
The 120m long USAT Liberty shipwreck at Tulamben is worth your adventure but take note the travel time from Seminyak to the area is approximately 2hrs 30mins. On top of that, the dive at Tulamben are mostly shore entry.
As for Blue Lagoon, it is located in Padangbai and only approximately 1hr 15mins from Seminyak. If you book through us, our custom built boat docked at Padangbai harbour will take you to the site (5mins boat drive) and yes, it will be a boat entry.
From the above information, I believe you should have better insight on which would be best and suitable for you. I personally prefer Blue Lagoon since the distance is not too far and relaxing on the sun deck between the surface interval gets me a lot of vitamin sea
Between Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, I prefer Nusa Penida. I mean the Angel’s Billabong and Broken beach is close to each other and the vendor I told you earlier has a package called Island Tour visiting these sites.
For a customised tour I would suggest you to contact the vendor you are planning to go with so you may be able to get an accurate information on what they offer.
For the trekking you can contact trekking (at) mudigoestothemountain.com
Feel free to ask anytime.
Happy New Year!
Rio – AquaMarine Diving – Bali
Hi, just wish if anyone could answer my query.
I will be travelling to Bali between 15-25 Feb 2018, I am advanced diver with 40+ dives and looking to make some dives on eastern coast of Bali, my original plan is to stay in Tulamben, however considering the volcano alert is still active I started hesitating whether I should stay in somewhere else instead, my option is Sanur or Padang bai where I could easily get access to Tulamben or Amed or Nusa Penida as day trips.
Could someone give suggestions?? Is Tulamben still safe to stay on Feb? what’s the best alternative? Is the visibility good on February?
Thanks.
Juan
Holla Juan,
The volcano alert is still active for safety measures only, so that people won’t venture too close to it.
All business have gone back to service already in Tulamben, including hotels. We are also diving there for quite some time now without any issues. The government has already allowed everyone to go back to normal activities there.
If you are feeling uncomfortable staying by Tulamben I would recommend Candidasa, which would put you only 1hr distance from Tulamben dive sites. Sanur is great as well but you would have a 2hr transfer to Tulamben.
We usually book our divers in Candidasa, because is central to the best dive sites. It’s 1hr to Tulamben and only 15mins to Nusa Penida/Manta Point and other dive sites departing from Padangbai.
Visibility is good on February but sometimes it is affected by strong rains (Tulamben).
Padangbai dive sites are less susceptible to that.
If you need any help booking hotels, dives or any other assistance, let me know, will be a pleasure to make it happen for you.
Best Wishes
Vini from AquaMarine Diving – Bali
Thank you Vini for your contribution! It’s amazing to have you around always giving up to date information to our readers! Best bubbles, always!
Hi Myryame,
It is always a pleasure !
Best Bubbles for you too
Vini from AquaMarine Diving – Bali
Hi I am visiting Bali from 17 to 22 May staying 19 in Ubud, 20 to 22 Nusa dua, 17 to 18 not booked yet. I want to do scuba diving, I have not done it before. Can any one please suggest me the best place to do scuba diving in Bali?
Dived Bali in 2005, 2013 and in 2017. Each time the diving got worse in my opinion. Saw much less fish, less nudi’s. But much more polution in the water, especially plastics.
Bali is getting more and more and lots more crowded each year with tourists and local people trying to make a profit out of tourist industry.
Bali has become a place of mass tourism, similar to Koh Tao.
Padang Bai for example has become so much more crowded in 2017 compared to only 4 years ago….
Better place to dive and stay: take the ferry to Nusa Lembongan.
On the positive side: had great sushi on the way back in Kuta @BlueFin restaurant.
Unfortunately never again Bali. Dirty, crowded, mass tourist place, only good for novice divers not used to much more beautiful places.
I been there 2013 in Nov/Dec and 2017 in October. When in Bali, I stay in Candidasa and dive Mingpang, Tepekong, Biaha, Tulamben, and Amed. Then I head over to Nusa Lembongan to dive that area. This year, I went to Gili Air to catch the live aboard to Komodo. The corals are amazing but I did see less!
Hi
I have some question.
I need to learn diving master course. How many days take this course?
tom
Dear Tom,
The Dive Master Course is complex and the amount of days will depend entirely on you and the time you have available.
It could take one month or more if you don’t commit to it every day.
If you need the complete information I will be happy to guide you through.
Vini – from AquaMarine Diving – Bali
Hi Tom & Vini!
Can’t provide a much better answer
Thanks Vini for offering your help!
I need to participate in diving master course.
Hi. Good evening. I’m planning a trip to Bali hopefully on this coming May 23th to 27th. There will be two souls including me for the travel.
Can you help me with the following questions please?
1. My friend wants to learn surfing and i want to have a fun dive in Bali. Where are the suitable places for having both of surfing and fun dive ? I hope it would be near from the Ngurah Rai International Airport.
2. Can you suggest me any accommodations near from the suitable places for having both of surfing and fun dive?
3. Where is the most famous diving spot in the southern part of Bali?
4. I noticed that renting motorcycle is a good option for the transportation in Bali. Should we have to prepare the international license for renting motorcycle?
5. Are there any suggestions for the well-known tourist spots in Bali? Can you also recommend me some of the activities that i can do at there?
It will be really appreciated if you answer my questions. Thank you and hope to see you on May
Hi Leo,
1. popular surf places are Canggu, Kuta in south-west and Uluwatu in south Bali. All reachable within 15-45 minutes from airport.
Unfortunately for you, all quality dive sites are located in South-east and North-east Bali. The closest to Kuta is Blue Lagoon which takes around 1hr 15 min road travel and 5 minutes speedboat ride.
But the good news is that most dive companies provide hotel pick up from South Bali so you do not need to worry about that.
2. accommodation depends a lot on your available budget and preferred type (villa/guesthouse…). In Bali you can find anything between USD20 and USD1000 per night.
3. some dive schools dive around Nusa Dua or Sanur because it is close and convenient, but there is not much to see.
4. Riding motorcycle is indeed the most popular & convenient mode of transport on this lovely island. Yes, you have to carry international driving licence with you, otherwise you will get fined if you come into a police control. Also most places require it in order to rent the motorbike to you.
5. Bali has a lot to offer from relaxing beaches to thousand of temples, waterfalls, arts (hand-made crafts from silver, wood…, dances,…), nature walks, volcano trekking, lakes, water sports and much more. So once again it depends a bit on what kind of traveler you are and on your interests.
I hope the above was helpful.
Best wishes,
Adriana from AquaMarine Diving – Bali
Hi,
I’m heading to Bali with two of my friends, considering to dive either 1 or 2 days. Hoping to see mola mola and mantas. We are padi certified but it has been about 2 years since we last dived, still need to be guided during the dive.
Which are the dive sites you would recommend and how is the dive package and gear rental be like?
Best,
Just
Hey Just,
Why not do a refresher on the first day at an easy location like Tulamben or Padang Bai.
The dive sites where you are likely to see mola molas are definitely out of bound for a first day diving, if you have not dived for 2 years. These include Gili Biaha, Gili Tepekong & Gili Mimpang along with the Nusa Penida sites. We’re talking about deep dive sites with strong current and you need to be Advanced certified to dive these. Unsafe operators may bring Open Water or uncertified divers to such sites… Avoid them!
LINK REMOVED Geko Dive Bali can help you out with all of this.
Hi Just,
we just got your email and I have already responded to it. In case you can not find it please check your spam/junk folder.
As mentioned in my response I recommend doing 2 days so that you can go to an easier dive site first before hunting for Mantas and Mola-Mola in order to be able to fully & safely enjoy this experience.
I am looking forward to hear from you.
Best wishes,
Adriana from AquaMarine Diving – Bali
My husband and I dived with Sanctum Dive in August on the island of Nusa Penida (neighboring island of Bali). We are absolute beginners and for us the strong currents in the Manta Bay and Toyapakeh were too difficult. The currents have changed their direction unpredictably.
On the second day we were in the north of Nusa Penida at Sental and PED. There it is quieter and more suitable for beginners.
Unfortunately we did not see anything big except turtles and a moraine (no mola molas even it was mola mola season). The Manta Rays in Manta Bay we have seen only from the boat.
The diving school Sanctum Dive is absolutely great and highly recommended.
Yup, you just recommended a dive center that put you in danger by bringing you to sites inappropriate to your experience level!
Hi Everybody,
I will be in Nusa Dua for work the week of April 14th and am hoping to add on some diving the Friday and Saturday (April 19/20). My understanding is that the water around Nusa Dua (where the hotel is located) is quite rough and better for surfing that diving.. can you please tell me more about where you would suggest diving, how long the boat trips to dive sites are, etc.? I’m an experienced diver (Advanced open water, almost 100 dives, dove most recently in February), and would love to diver while I’m there, but not excited about rough boat trips to the dive sites.
I’ve been told, the best thing is to take a plane to the Gili islands, but that doesn’t work with my flight back to Europe, as I’d need to fly too soon after diving to get back.
Can you please tell me more?
Many thanks!
Nusa Dua is somewhat isolated from the rest of Bali and you are correct, the diving around there is ‘poor’.
However there are many dive companies located in south Bali, all of which will come and pick you up from your accom, take you to decent dive sites, provide lunch/water, have rental gear, all on a Day Trip.
You can see more info on Bali’s dive sites here:
LINK REMOVED
If I were to recommend (just) one Day Trip, it would be:
Either Tulamben: LINK REMOVED (world famous for the 120M USAT Liberty Shipwreck, which is more of an artificial reef than a ‘wreck dive’, just off the beach
Or Nusa Penida inc Manta Point: LINK REMOVED
Bali is very well known for its dive locations (and diversity of dive locations) and there is no need to fly anywhere else
Annabel
Hi,
I would like to join “Price Padi Open Water Course”, can you provide more information to us ??
How many days for the course ?
If our hotel at Kuta, are you provide free shuttle bus service ?
Look forward for your reply.
Many thanks,
Kristy
Hi Kristy,
Thanks for contacting us
I would be delighted to help you arrange your diving course. If you can send an email to LINK REMOVED
We have free transfers from Kuta to the dive sites.
If you can send us an email with your dates and accommodation details we can put this together for you.
AquaMarine Diving – Bali
Hi Kristy,
Bali is a great place to do your diver training!
You can join AquaMarine Diving – Bali and get your Open Water Diver Certification.
We normally conduct our Open Water Diver Course in 3 days:
1st day – Class and pool session in Seminyak
2nd day – Open Water Dives 1 & 2 (to max 18m)
3rd day – Open Water Dives 3 & 4 (to max 18m)
If you book with AquaMarine Diving – Bali, yes we include the return transfer for all 3 days especially from Kuta!
Please contact LINK REMOVED and provide us with your details (dates, hotel details and for how many people). Our Dive Travel Consultant will then get back to you with all the details and availability.
Can’t wait to have you join us!
Rio
Hi Kristy,
Thank you for your enquiry.
We would be happy to welcome you to our Open Water Course!
It is a 3 days course, with prior theory studying online. On the first day you will be doing Class+Pool session, the second day the first two dives and third day the third and forth dives, sites being Blue Lagoon & Tulamben/USAT Liberty Shipwreck. The price for the course is USD495 per person (if 2 participants). We also provide free transfers from south Bali area
You can email us to LINK REMOVED (AquaMarine Diving) and we would be happy to send you more information.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Kind regards,
Laura
My friend and I are planning touring Bali and Java then a liveaboard week. We are older diving women average age 70, and usually dive Caymans. Now we’re getting more and more concerned regarding the currents. Is there a liveaboard that kind of specializes in easier dives? We hope to be there in September 2019. Thanks so much for your experience! Gail
Hello Gail Wall,
If you are doing Bali and Java touring, the most cost viable and worthwhile Liveaboard trip that I would recommend is doing Bali – Komodo or the other way around.
Now that you mention you are avoiding current, not in my experience a Liveaboard having specified one. Most of the Liveaboard trip in Indonesia are a mixture of dive sites. Particularly for Komodo, you will expect string current on sites like Castle Rock, Batu Bolong, Crystal Rocks etc.
If you really want to avoid currents more than doing a liveaboard trip, I would recommend diving in Bali and choose the easy dive sites yourself. We run daily trips to zero-mild currents sites like Tulamben Bay, Liberty Shipwreck, Blue Lagoon and Amed.
For more information, please contact LINK REMOVED
Our Dive Travel Consultant will assist you and plan your trips to suit your preference.
If you wish to go ahead with Liveaboard trips, you can contact me at LINK REMOVED
We will be waiting for your email!
hola a todo el mundo!
first of all, congratulations Julian and team for the great work here.
then my question. I will be in Ubud at the end of January and was planning to add some days of diving in the first days of February, but after reading the blog I have two concerns:
1) it seems like it is the worst time of the year.
2) diving does not seem so appealing considering I have done wreck diving in Coron and seen Mantas in Komodo.
I would be grateful to hear opinions from experts and extremely grateful if offered alternatives. I am currently considering:
A) Gili islands.
B) liveaboard to Komodo.
many thanks in advance!
Hi Fransisco,
I would not prefer “worst” to be honest . January and February is rainy season when you can expect more rain. But the condition would not be always bad during these months. You can experience a very nice condition too. As for Gili islands and Komodo, here is my answer:
A. Gili islands
Just like Bali, the diving is for all year round. Only during January – February (rainy season in general), the condition might be not as good and visibility can be reduced.
B. Komodo
It is not the best season to dive in Komodo island. In rainy season, the surface can be choppy. But this is a good time to see a lot of Manta rays. Liveaboard schedules are going to be hard to find in these months as it is not the season. The best time to visit Komodo is from April – October in dry season.
Having all that said, I would recommend to go to Raja Ampat. This is the season when planktons are blooming. Rich with nutrients, you can see parade of Manta rays for cleaning. For further information you can contact us at tours [at] aquamarinediving [dot] com
Waiting to hear from you!
Hi Fransisco,
As you may or may not know, January & February is rainy season where relatively high rainfall is to be expected. Diving in both Gili islands and Komodo is not the best time but however still okay. Gili islands: The condition is good but visibility may reduced due to rain. This is a good time for Manta rays and Whale shark is occasionally seen passing by.
Komodo: The best time to visit Komodo is from April – October where the condition is generally good. During these month, the surface condition can be rough. Plus it is hard to find liveaboard schedule as it is not the season.
I would recommend to go to Raja Ampat instead. November – early March is the season for Raja Ampat. This time is when planktons are blooming makes the water rich in nutrients. This time you can see a lot of Manta for cleaning. Many liveaboards take advantage of this to explore the sea of Raja Ampat! Email us at LINK REMOVED for further information.
Can’t wait to hear from you to discuss further about your plan!
Regards,
Aji
I have lived in Indonesia for 25 out of the past 34 years, and started diving Indonesia consistently in 1998 – so I have been diving Indo for 22 years. The diving has deteriorated terribly over the years. The main issues are plastic waste and decimation of the fish populations. There is also some coral bleaching each year along the Ahmed coast.
Even in some of the most famous spots outside Bali e.g. Komodo, there are islands in the north that capture the waste when tides run high and entire beach berms are composed of plastic bottles. I swam into one small island a couple of years back thinking it was a beautiful sparkling beach with a pair of sea eagles that I had been watching, nesting in some mangroves. The beach was composed of plastic bottles.
Manta Point – plastic everywhere. Almost all of Bali, especially around Menjangan (last time I was there was April 2019) is almost denude of reefal fish life. There are no more clouds of antheas – fish soup – above the reefs, like there were only 10 years ago.
If you wish to see healthy larger fish populations, then you need to go remote, which can be more expensive (e.g. Raja Empat, around Maratua area NE kalimantan.) Or search out some hidden gems that are not yet overly exploited (I know a few places, but I wont tell where so that I can protect them, but one fantastic spot is close to Bali – you can find them yourself.)
Otherwise, go to Philippines – the fact that the population is so spread out along all the multiple islands, means that apart from around the big cities, the population density isnt too great, and the fish populations are still good. Plus, they seem to be a much cleaner country than Indonesia.
Diving in Bali per dive is no longer this cheap.
When I went in 2019, it was already around USD70-80 per dive.
Hi Eric! You are totally right, thanks for pointing this out! I will make sure to update the Bali page sooner than later!
Crazy how the prices are wayyy higher now uh! Safe bubbles!
The price of diving in Bali depends on:
– Where you are diving.
– How many dives a day you do (3rd and subsequent dives are cheaper as the bigger costs to the operator have been covered).
– From where you start.
For example, my company is located in south Bali. Our prices include:
Land transport
Boat transport (where needed)
2 dives
PADI-certified dive guide (Divemaster or above) – max ratio 1:4
Lunch & unlimited bottled water
Local taxes, fees and porterage
Beach towels
Diver Medical Insurance
They are full Day Trips due to the land/boat travel and that we don’t rush our guests
On the NE coast: Tulamben Bay (famous for the 120m USAT Liberty shipwreck) USD130 and Amed USD140
Outside Padangbai/Candidasa (E coast) the prices range from USD135 to 160 (depending on the distance travelled by boat)
Over at Nusa Penida it’s USD170, if you include Manta Point: USD180
And up at Menjangan Island which lies off the north side of Bali’s NW tip, USD170 (we use boats licensed by the West Bali National Park).
Obviously, if you organise your own transport to the above locations, and then you book with a local operator, the prices will be lower as they have no land transport costs. They probably wouldn’t include lunch as you’re ‘on site’, and I’d check about Diver Medical insurance.
You just answered your own question.
I said “on average”, obviously when we say average we exclude the extremes and take an average of what an average trip would cost, plus minus. There is no need to go into specifics where and things like that, its just a rough guide a rough estimate.
With that, even your exact costs for 2 dives fall within what I mentioned, an average USD80 per dive can be expected. Dont worry, you are not pricing yourself out of the market because thats what diving in Bali costs these days, Covid or not.
Cheers!