Diving Gamat Bay, Nusa Penida – Coral Plateau, Drift Dives & Marine Life Guide

Diving Gamat Bay is like diving in an aquarium

Gamat Bay dive site in Nusa Penida is a large, shallow coral plateau between two rocky points, extending downward. This plateau is 6 to 8 meters deep (sometimes a little more at high tide), which is convenient for discovery dives. At the end of the bay there is a wall that goes down to 40 meters. There, a sandbank in the direction of the blue marks the boundary of our playground. Such an amazing playground that everyone diving Gamat Bay should enjoy it !  That’s why it is part of our top 20 dive sites in Bali !

The idea here is to drift along the reef. The site’s topography, marked by beautiful coral formations, contributes to the charm and beauty of this dive. Sometimes challenging, its privileged location offers an experience rich in underwater flora and fauna. From the smallest to the biggest, we frequently observe many species of nudibranchs, turtles, moray eels, squads of batfish and marble rays, as well as Mola Mola.

Instructors best of

Gamat Bay is delightful, such a colorful dive site, from its shallow water bay to its deep water wall. There is life everywhere, schools of fish and untouched corals. Its water are unpredictable and bring every time a load of surprises. It is a site that has to be earned. I really enjoy Gamat Bay dive site to improve the buoyancy of my students & teach them the perfect position to adopt when you are drift diving.

It is also a great place to try different adventures during an Advanced Open Water course: deep dive, orientation, fish ID, PPB… Beyond the fact it is a perfect playground to teach, Gamat Bay is also an astonishment for the eyes. I have for proof the big smile on my students‘ faces at the surface, proud to have successfully lived such a challenging & wonderful dive. Without any doubt, a must-do for every diver !

Loic, OWSI

Words of divers

Diving Gamat Bay is challenging. We really have to remain attentive to the currents as they can change in a second. But how good it is to observe so much life there. During a dive there we stopped to admire one Mola Mola, then two, then three, until we realized we were on Sunfish highway, surrounded by fourteen of them! Lucky you want to say? It all depends on the guide!

So get your fins and come and enjoy diving Gamat Bay with us !

Marion, October 2018

How to dive Gamat Bay

You can dive at Gamat Bay during a discovery dive, during a PADI certification course or if you are certified during a fun dive.

Gamat Bay is also a beautiful snorkeling spot but you need to bring your mask, tuba and fins. But be careful, the beach is not supervised and very strong currents can carry you out of the bay. If there is no snorkeling boat in the bay, wearing fins is essential. And please, don’t do like many tourists who can’t swim : don’t walk on the coral. It is neither good for your feet, nor for the coral. Read this to learn more about Gamat Bay and how to get there by road.

The characteristics of the dive site

• Type of diving : photography, macro, buoyancy, for experienced diver : drift dive at the exit of bay.
• Depth: 6 to 40 meters
• Level required: all levels (with the right guide)
• Visibility: 15-25 meters
• Temperature of the water : 18/23 °C
• Current: mild to strong
• Access: 10 minutes navigation from Toyapakeh
• Flora : Coral, sandbar
• Fauna : Mola-Mola, marble ray, reef shark, ghostpipe, frogfish, nudibranches
• Best time: All year

 Additional resources

If you’re interested in learning more, be sure to check out our Nusa Penida Travel Guide. You can also dive deeper into the incredible marine life of the region with our dedicated pages on manta rays, mola mola (ocean sunfish), sharks, and nudibranchs, all commonly encountered around Bali and Nusa Penida. And if you have any questions about scuba diving in Bali or Indonesia, don’t hesitate to reach out—we love connecting with divers and aspiring divers alike and sharing our passion for these extraordinary underwater worlds.