Diving in Bali is a dream for many of us. To encourage you to transform this dream into reality, here is a guide to scuba diving in Bali and Nusa Penida. Scuba diving is indeed one of the key activities to do in Nusa Penida. Why ? Because its dive spots are part of most rankings of the top 10 dive sites in the world. And in the top 3 dive sites in Indonesia, along with Komodo and Raja Ampat. Scuba divers come indeed from everywhere in the world to meet the oceanic sunfish, also called Mola Mola, and the manta rays. But this complete guide of Bali and Nusa Penida diving will prove you there is much more to see !
One of the main assets of Nusa Penida scuba diving is the great diversity of its marine fauna. We have already mentioned pelagic animals like the manta ray or the sunfish. But we also regularly meet reef sharks, such as white tip sharks or bamboo sharks. Or more rarely a whale shark as it happened to us on December 31st. There is also a wide variety of rays : eagle ray, marbled ray, stingray ray. Lots of turtles too. You have also good chance to meet dolphins, which we regularly see on the surface. And sometimes underwater !
There are also many schools of fish, big or small. In particular schools of tuna, jack fish, batfish, blue and gold fusiliers fish, or surgeon fish. On every wall around the island you can see many moray eels and lobsters, well hidden in asperities. And sometimes octopuses.
Macro lovers will also love Nusa Penida scuba diving. There are very many species of nudibranchs, for example chromodoris, flavellin and nembrotha. It’s like chasing Pokemons and our collection is already impressive ! We also like to go and search for a pygmy seahorse, a Zanzibar shrimp or an Orangutan crab.
There is a very wide variety of coral, hard or soft, with an incredible diversity of colors. And also very beautiful sea anemones in which we are looking for the smallest ! The coral flora also offers exceptional underwater landscapes.
Visibility is very good, generally 20 to 30 meters. And the water is warm, usually around 26°C at the surface.
In short, go diving Nusa Penida island with us, and you will see a multitude of colors and species !
A nudibranch
There are around 50 dive sites around the three islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan. The Gili dive sites in Padang Bay are also accessible by boat from Nusa Penida. To know more, read our article on our 20 best dive sites in Bali !
Nusa Penida is especially well known for its currents. These currents can be stable and medium as for example on the north coast of Nusa Penida island which allows very beautiful drift dives along the reef. You stall in the current with a well-controlled buoyancy and you just have to watch the movie unfold in front of you ! But the currents can also be more violent as for example in the channel between Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan, in the middle of the rising or falling tide. These currents bring a lot of life and they are the pledge of a sometimes spectacular dive. But you will have to be careful and above all, follow the directions of your guide.
Departures from the beach are rare in Nusa Penida because it is wiser to have a boat following you if the current picks up.
Mola Mola in Crystal Bay
Your guide may propose a deep dive, in particular to go observe the oceanic sunfish. The Mola Mola indeed lives very deep, down to a few hundred meters. It goes up during the season to depths accessible for a fun diver, but rarely very close to the surface of the water.
Finally, the easiest dive sites allow you to combine scuba diving and snorkeling. Interesting, if your partner does not want or cannot scuba dive with you.
Safety must be one of the important criteria for the choice of your diving center in Nusa Penida. Specially because of the currents which can be violent : tearing currents or downward currents. Indonesian law also requires having a maximum of 4 divers for a guide.
It is therefore important to choose a good diving center with all the safety equipment – in particular oxygen and radio on board – and can offer you PADI insurance. Above all, whose guides and instructors are experienced and know perfectly well Nusa Penida dive sites. Check other divers reviews, for example on Tripadvisor.
You can go scuba diving is all year round in Nusa Penida and Bali. But to see the sunfish, it is better to plan your diving trip during the Mola Mola season, between August to October. On the other hand the manta rays are there practically throughout the year. But whatever the time of your trip we will make sure that your diving in Nusa Penida is awesome !
Manta Ray at Manta Point
Most dive centers in Nusa Penida offer PADI diving training. The diversity of diving types and the presence of currents is a big advantage. With the right instructor, after being trained in Nusa Penida, you can scuba dive serenely almost anywhere in the world ! The most popular PADI certifications are open water diver and advanced open water diver.
Warnakali diving center was created in 2017. It was the first PADI certified diving center in Nusa Penida. Warnakali has joined the closed club of PADI Five Star dive resort in Bali in less than two years. Several hundreds of 5 * reviews on Tripadvisor also testify to the great quality of the services provided by the center and the team.
The perfect and extensive knowledge of the dive sites makes it possible to vary the dives every day. And to guide you on sites or at times where you will come across very few other divers.
Discovery dive in Warnakali pool
Warnakali will also offer you many options for your diving : Nitrox, 15-liter tanks, adaptive diving for divers with disabilities.
The centre’s equipment is up to this ambition, and in particular the 3-meter deep swimming pool. This allows the initiation to diving and preparation for first sea dives in exceptional safety and comfort conditions.
If you have never scuba dived but want to try it, Warnakali and Nusa Penida are perfect for a first dive. You will start in our 3 meter deep pool. And once familiar with the scuba diving equipment you will go discovering diving with Manta rays !
Discovery dive with Manta Ray
The scuba diving day in Nusa Penida is as follows.
We will meet at Toyapakeh, where our Buraq 3 boat is located. All your equipment is already equipped on board the boat, with the sizes you have communicated to us the day before. After a little coffee to get to know each other, we set off on an adventure for this day (3 dives) or half day (2 dives). A snack is served on board during the surface interval.
The choice of sites is made according to sea conditions as well as the desires and experience of each. Among the fifty dive sites in Bali where we regularly go.
Warnakali is a dive resort. You will find accommodations, restaurant, spa and more at Adiwana Warnakali PADI 5 star dive resort.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to discuss with you !
View Comments
Mohon di berikan penawaran harga diving 3 hari, per hari dive 3 kali di nusapenida.
Halo Rini,
Untuk mengatur fun dive 3 tank Anda dengan Dune Penida, Saya sudah kirim contactnya via email.
Blaise
What is the visibility like after all the rain that Bali has had? Has Nusa Penida been affected?
Hello Lizzie,
The weather in Bali was indeed not good in the first days of July with a lot of rain and a rough sea. It was not possible to go to Manta Point during a few days but the north coast dive sites were still very nice to dive with a great visibility.
Blaise