Amok is one of our secret dive sites in Nusa Penida ! The wall of Amok is going towards Crystal Bay. The dive site takes its name from Amok Sunset bar, which overlooks it. We start diving Amok between two rocks in a little cove, before drifting into the current. In front of us, a vertical steep wall and big terraces are covered with red and orange corals as far as the eye can see. The deep blue of this site makes the colors sharp. The site’s topography gives a sense of safety despite the currents, which can get really strong here.
Moray eel in Nusa Penida
Three steps, three different kinds of species
The layout is made of steps, and depending on the depths, different species can be spotted. In the deep part, we will follow the big ones, looking for schools of batfish, thresher shark, or Mola Mola. Less deep, a thin crack in the wall is welcoming scorpionfish and stonefish. We can also enjoy the presence of smaller animals like hairy squat lobsters living in giant barrel sponges.
Finally, on the last plateau in shallow water, different types of clownfish are protecting their anemones. But you can also find porcelain crabs, ghost shrimps, sexy anemone shrimps, and different types of nudibranchs.
The end of the dive is easy to recognize: the topography changes, and a slope leads up to the bay of Gamat. There, we may see different types of reef sharks (white tip, bamboo), as well as robust ghost pipefish with its leaf-shaped camouflage. We will do our safety stop in the bay, in the company of some turtles, juvenile or adult ribbon eel. We can admire the coral bumps on the sandy bottom, where fusilier, bannerfish and surgeonfish will surround us during the ascent.
Diving Amok definitely brings us joy again & againevery time !
Words of our guests
I had never heard of Amok dive site in Nusa Penida before. We jump in the water after a solid briefing of my instructor. He clearly mentions that I will have to stay focused because of the currents. Diving Amok will be a good opportunity to put everything I learned during my Open Water and Advanced Open Water courses into practice.
I can’t stop myself contemplating what is happening beneath us, the colors capture my attention. We go down on a plateau and nudibranchs are already welcoming us. After that, we drift along the wall with the current, as explained during the briefing.
Current is pretty strong, but I just drift in it, taking care to remain behind my instructor. It is a very pleasant sensation. I really enjoy the beauty of the landscape. There is hips of life, the schools of fish are impressive. We start to ascend after this delightful dive, and during the safety stop, a school of tunas shows up. I really was touched by the incredible beauty of Amok dive site!
Jean-Mi, January 2020
Instructors’ crush
Marion, OWSI
Amok is a site I like to keep as a treasure for my students. I really enjoy bringing them there to finalize an Advanced Open Water course, or when they spend several days of diving with us. They realize then how much they improve in those challenging conditions. We work on buoyancy and the position to adopt while drift diving, always being aware and respecting the aquatic life around us. It is a totally different dive site, not many people go there. It is always nice to discover new sites like this.
We enjoy diving Amok because of its very specific colors, red and orange, but also because of the different species of fish we can see there. It is a very interesting site to discover for beginners as confirmed divers. The smiles at the surface after the dive tell you how beautiful this site is and how enjoyable it is to dive here. Also, it is a very nice feeling for them to dive safely in a bit more challenging conditions.
Marion diving Amok
Loic, OWSI
Sensational !
Just after I arrived in Nusa Penida, one of my first experiences was to go diving at Amok. We often say that short jokes are the best ones, it can also be a true fact about diving. I realize that Nusa Penida waters has to be earned. Indeed, I have a lot of work to do to deserve it, a lot of competencies to learn, and a self-confidence to build. All of that will be needed to be able to guide in those conditions. About this first time, I remember the speed and my lack of experience in such an environment. Despite of that, I enjoyed the beauty of this colorful site.
After a year and many dives around Nusa Penida, I built that confidence. Nowadays, I really enjoy bringing my students here to sum up an Open Water course. I consider it really important for them to confront those conditions and realize they can do so. What a joy at the surface, seeing them with big smiles, sharing the experience they just lived through, despite the challenging conditions and the incredible dive they just did. I know for sure that they are now able and ready to dive safely wherever they want in the world, no matter the conditions.
If Amok Dive Site has sparked your curiosity, it’s worth taking a deeper look at everything the island has to offer—both above and below the surface. To help you plan the perfect stay, explore our complete travel guide to Nusa Penida, covering how to get there, where to stay, the best beaches, viewpoints, and practical tips for getting around the island.
For divers, don’t miss our Nusa Penida diving guide, which explains seasons, water temperatures, currents, certifications, and what to expect when diving in these uniquely dynamic waters. You can also dive Amok and many other exceptional sites with Dune Penida Dive Center, a PADI 5★ center based on Nusa Penida, known for its experienced guides and strong focus on safety and local knowledge. 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’re choosing where to dive next, our in-depth guide to the best dive sites in Bali breaks down each site by level, conditions, and marine life—so you can build a dive plan that perfectly matches your experience, your comfort level, and your sense of adventure.
Dive with Mola Mola
Dive with Mola Mola in Nusa Penida : learn about sunfish season, cleaning stations, thermoclines, dive depth and how to safely encounter these ocean giants.
20 best dive sites in Bali around Nusa Penida, Padang Bai and North Bali : discover manta rays, oceanic sunfish, sharks, drift dives and vibrant coral reefs.
Complete Nusa Penida Travel Guide : how to get there, where to stay, best beaches, temples, viewpoints and practical tips to plan your island adventure.
