Dive In Candidasa
CANDIDASA is located in a fishing village near the east of Bali about a two-hour journey from Denpasar. The coral at these sites is in prime, untouched condition and some very large fish, including sharks, may be encountered. But watch out for the waves, they can be big and are
unpredictable. Only experienced divers should dive here. Highlights include an underwater canyon and steep wall dives. Currents can be strong.
Gili Tepekong, Gili Mimpang, and Gili Biaha are all surrounded by remarkably healthy reefs, but they are generally low-lying due to the current that sweeps east Bali. This current brings nutrients to these reef and accounts for their diversity. You'll find a vast number and great diversity of fish, abundant sharks and frequent pelagic visitors with beautiful, healthy corals and often superb visibility.
Candidasa have several dive sites such as:
Gili Tepekong
Located on the east coast of Bali just offshore from Candidasa with its vertical wall and the blue cave and the dangerous Tepekong's Canyon. There are scattered bombies with a considerable amount of fish. Reef sharks and assorted rays are also to be found here.
This island (around 300 m long rock) offers some of the most spectacular diving in Bali: steep walls, cold water and strong currents make this a site for experienced divers only. As the currents can get unpredictable at times and change often during a dive, this site is recommended for experienced divers only.
Visibility is very good and average compared to other dive sites around Bali. If conditions are not suitable, there are other good sites in the vicinity. The water temperature here can be surprisingly cold, and if there is a strong swell from the north, the conditions can be treacherous with spin currents which can grab a diver and plunge him very quickly. Drifting with the current, you can see shark, moray eel, ray and other pelagics.
Gili Mimpang
Gili Mimpang or Shark Point located near the Goat Island. Although Mimpang is only 1 km from Tepekong the conditions are the two sites are regularly not the same. It can get very cold at depths over 20 m and current sometimes strong surge as you enter. The best diving is to be had above this depth where you see small coral reef, white sand. There is a wildly merry reef here and the marine life is profuse and varied.
Also known as Batu Tiga, a group of 3 medium rocks, this is not a dive site for the novice as the currents can be fairly strong, and may be tricky but negotiable. The cold waters off-putting if your major focus is simply getting used to being in the water. It offers similar typical to Goat Island with a specialty of shark diving. There are many trigger fishes and the fish life is exceptionally rich. Sunfishes are regular visitor.
Mimpang is exactly that the large rocks that come to the surface and various others below the surface, which run in a ridge - the north towards Bali and the south (richer end) dropping into deeper water. Mimpang offers a better chance to see white tip reef shark than Tepekong does, and often in great numbers.
The topography of Mimpang is diverse, with sloping reefs, craggy rocks, walls, hard and soft corals, and some gorgonians. The reef has a good cover of soft corals, with many stony corals, staghorn and table corals. It can be possible to snorkel at Mimpang as the reef starts quite shallow on a white sand slope rather than simply dropping off to a wall. Therefore if you cannot dive Mimpang first, and go to Tepekong.
Gili Biaha
Located on the north from Goat Island. Back roll is the best entry method to enter the water. The current is quiet wild here, sometime can form a whirlpool. Some walls and some slopes with a very healthy reef. The wall is black with abundant soft coral is some area. Sharks are also common, although as not as many as Gili Mimpang. There quiet many small marine life compare to Gili Mimpang and Goat Island.
In front of the beach lies a coral reef which starts at a depth of 2 m and gently drops to 15 m. The slope at the open seaside of the rock, drops vertically to a non-reachable depth for divers. The slope is beautifully grown with hard and soft corals, which have remained small and sturdy because of the surrounding current. Gili Biaha is an outstanding dive site for practiced divers only, and unluckily not suitable for snorkeling.
The current here can be very strong, not only horizontally, but also downwards; there is sometimes surge. There is a beautiful and healthy reef around the island, a rocky slope in the north, a wall around the southern part. This rugged black wall, with the breaking waves above, is utterly beautiful in places and at times it is almost as if the fish are superfluous - but not quite!
There are various entry points around the island, and your dive can cover almost the entire circumference of the island. Most of the awkward currents are on the northern slope. The inside area of the crescent (the east side of Biaha) has a cave large in which white tip reef shark often sleep. The protected area outside the cave has interesting corals.
The Canyon
Located off the very south-western tip of Tepekong with depth max 40 m. Entering on the steep slope just slightly north of the Canyon itself, you head straight down to 25 m and enter the Canyon. If there is no current you'll be able to clearly see the dramatic beauty of these stunning, craggy walls, been carved from the black stone. These waters are rich with nutrients, the Canyon has some soft corals and small gorgonians.
East Tepekong
Wall diving with depth 15-40 m. Entering from the boat, you drop down to 14 m. The marine life is excellent with the occasional turtle, tuna, parrotfish, barracuda, angelfish, butterflyfish, sweetlips, and many kinds of triggerfish. Conditions are generally easier but you can still expect to encounter surge, and sometimes strong down currents. Tepekong is a small, shallow, semi-protected, and rocky reef with bommies.
The Goat Island
A very small island with 2-3 diving sites. Sometime when the current is right, you can explore the whole underwater sites. The west side is very rich in underwater life. Sharks are quiet common. The current is unpredictable and at some point changing directions and may include strong undertow and surge. Some people called this site 'the toilet' sunfishes. Water is generally crystal clear with visibility more than 20 m.
The Blue Lagoon
Located just a tiny bit northeast of Padangbai and about 5 km south of Mimpang. The steepness of the beach means there are waves. The topography is not spectacular with white sand bottom, which slopes gradually, has scattered rocks, soft corals and a huge area of staghorn coral. However the fish life is amazing! Blue Lagoon may be good alternative for relaxing place. It's located in a beautiful white sandy beaches lagoon.
The diving route will generally starts from the lagoon and then turn to the right. You will find schools of sweet lips, morays and sometime crocodile fish. Usually visibility is from 15-20 m, and in some area there is current, but not so strong. Some big corals with some baby sharks are common. The lagoon is excellent for snorkeling.
While the Blue Lagoon is easy diving, sometimes used for open water courses and popular with snorkelers, experienced divers, and photographers also thoroughly enjoy the site. There is sometimes a little surge and a mild current, but the bay is fairly protected. Night-diving can be possible (dependent on conditions) and is recommended.
Padangbai
Padangbai is the ferry port for the ferry terminates here. The north side provides shallow and mid depth diving to about 20 m. At the south of the drift the steep drop off and sandy bottom signify the Blue Lagoon site. Padangbai with it's strong straits currents and exciting terrain, attracts huge schools of hungry fish from the ocean deeps.
On south of the harbor, the reef drops vertically to 20 m and continues in a sandy area. The drop off is grown with hard and soft corals. Many nudibranches and some flatworms can be found here. The underwater landscape is dominated by bommies, where large spiny lobsters can be found.
On north of the harbor, either you will explore an interesting slope, which drops to 30 m. Eventually the sandy areas will become smaller and the landscape turns into hard and soft coral growth. There the current picks up in the direction of the open sea, where quite often whitetip reef sharks can be seen.
Full moon night dive on the wall. This picturesque bay, surrounded by majestic cliffs and hills, offers excellent diving with a great variety of marine life. White sandy bottom and exceptionally clear cool water and there are over many species of hard corals, plus numerous species of soft corals, colorful reef.
Illustrations of Candidasa Dive Site
Gili Tepekong, Gili Mimpang, and Gili Biaha are all surrounded by remarkably healthy reefs, but they are generally low-lying due to the current that sweeps east Bali. This current brings nutrients to these reef and accounts for their diversity. You'll find a vast number and great diversity of fish, abundant sharks and frequent pelagic visitors with beautiful, healthy corals and often superb visibility.
Candidasa have several dive sites such as:
Gili Tepekong
Located on the east coast of Bali just offshore from Candidasa with its vertical wall and the blue cave and the dangerous Tepekong's Canyon. There are scattered bombies with a considerable amount of fish. Reef sharks and assorted rays are also to be found here.
This island (around 300 m long rock) offers some of the most spectacular diving in Bali: steep walls, cold water and strong currents make this a site for experienced divers only. As the currents can get unpredictable at times and change often during a dive, this site is recommended for experienced divers only.
Visibility is very good and average compared to other dive sites around Bali. If conditions are not suitable, there are other good sites in the vicinity. The water temperature here can be surprisingly cold, and if there is a strong swell from the north, the conditions can be treacherous with spin currents which can grab a diver and plunge him very quickly. Drifting with the current, you can see shark, moray eel, ray and other pelagics.
Gili Mimpang
Gili Mimpang or Shark Point located near the Goat Island. Although Mimpang is only 1 km from Tepekong the conditions are the two sites are regularly not the same. It can get very cold at depths over 20 m and current sometimes strong surge as you enter. The best diving is to be had above this depth where you see small coral reef, white sand. There is a wildly merry reef here and the marine life is profuse and varied.
Also known as Batu Tiga, a group of 3 medium rocks, this is not a dive site for the novice as the currents can be fairly strong, and may be tricky but negotiable. The cold waters off-putting if your major focus is simply getting used to being in the water. It offers similar typical to Goat Island with a specialty of shark diving. There are many trigger fishes and the fish life is exceptionally rich. Sunfishes are regular visitor.
Mimpang is exactly that the large rocks that come to the surface and various others below the surface, which run in a ridge - the north towards Bali and the south (richer end) dropping into deeper water. Mimpang offers a better chance to see white tip reef shark than Tepekong does, and often in great numbers.
The topography of Mimpang is diverse, with sloping reefs, craggy rocks, walls, hard and soft corals, and some gorgonians. The reef has a good cover of soft corals, with many stony corals, staghorn and table corals. It can be possible to snorkel at Mimpang as the reef starts quite shallow on a white sand slope rather than simply dropping off to a wall. Therefore if you cannot dive Mimpang first, and go to Tepekong.
Gili Biaha
Located on the north from Goat Island. Back roll is the best entry method to enter the water. The current is quiet wild here, sometime can form a whirlpool. Some walls and some slopes with a very healthy reef. The wall is black with abundant soft coral is some area. Sharks are also common, although as not as many as Gili Mimpang. There quiet many small marine life compare to Gili Mimpang and Goat Island.
In front of the beach lies a coral reef which starts at a depth of 2 m and gently drops to 15 m. The slope at the open seaside of the rock, drops vertically to a non-reachable depth for divers. The slope is beautifully grown with hard and soft corals, which have remained small and sturdy because of the surrounding current. Gili Biaha is an outstanding dive site for practiced divers only, and unluckily not suitable for snorkeling.
The current here can be very strong, not only horizontally, but also downwards; there is sometimes surge. There is a beautiful and healthy reef around the island, a rocky slope in the north, a wall around the southern part. This rugged black wall, with the breaking waves above, is utterly beautiful in places and at times it is almost as if the fish are superfluous - but not quite!
There are various entry points around the island, and your dive can cover almost the entire circumference of the island. Most of the awkward currents are on the northern slope. The inside area of the crescent (the east side of Biaha) has a cave large in which white tip reef shark often sleep. The protected area outside the cave has interesting corals.
The Canyon
Located off the very south-western tip of Tepekong with depth max 40 m. Entering on the steep slope just slightly north of the Canyon itself, you head straight down to 25 m and enter the Canyon. If there is no current you'll be able to clearly see the dramatic beauty of these stunning, craggy walls, been carved from the black stone. These waters are rich with nutrients, the Canyon has some soft corals and small gorgonians.
East Tepekong
Wall diving with depth 15-40 m. Entering from the boat, you drop down to 14 m. The marine life is excellent with the occasional turtle, tuna, parrotfish, barracuda, angelfish, butterflyfish, sweetlips, and many kinds of triggerfish. Conditions are generally easier but you can still expect to encounter surge, and sometimes strong down currents. Tepekong is a small, shallow, semi-protected, and rocky reef with bommies.
The Goat Island
A very small island with 2-3 diving sites. Sometime when the current is right, you can explore the whole underwater sites. The west side is very rich in underwater life. Sharks are quiet common. The current is unpredictable and at some point changing directions and may include strong undertow and surge. Some people called this site 'the toilet' sunfishes. Water is generally crystal clear with visibility more than 20 m.
The Blue Lagoon
Located just a tiny bit northeast of Padangbai and about 5 km south of Mimpang. The steepness of the beach means there are waves. The topography is not spectacular with white sand bottom, which slopes gradually, has scattered rocks, soft corals and a huge area of staghorn coral. However the fish life is amazing! Blue Lagoon may be good alternative for relaxing place. It's located in a beautiful white sandy beaches lagoon.
The diving route will generally starts from the lagoon and then turn to the right. You will find schools of sweet lips, morays and sometime crocodile fish. Usually visibility is from 15-20 m, and in some area there is current, but not so strong. Some big corals with some baby sharks are common. The lagoon is excellent for snorkeling.
While the Blue Lagoon is easy diving, sometimes used for open water courses and popular with snorkelers, experienced divers, and photographers also thoroughly enjoy the site. There is sometimes a little surge and a mild current, but the bay is fairly protected. Night-diving can be possible (dependent on conditions) and is recommended.
Padangbai
Padangbai is the ferry port for the ferry terminates here. The north side provides shallow and mid depth diving to about 20 m. At the south of the drift the steep drop off and sandy bottom signify the Blue Lagoon site. Padangbai with it's strong straits currents and exciting terrain, attracts huge schools of hungry fish from the ocean deeps.
On south of the harbor, the reef drops vertically to 20 m and continues in a sandy area. The drop off is grown with hard and soft corals. Many nudibranches and some flatworms can be found here. The underwater landscape is dominated by bommies, where large spiny lobsters can be found.
On north of the harbor, either you will explore an interesting slope, which drops to 30 m. Eventually the sandy areas will become smaller and the landscape turns into hard and soft coral growth. There the current picks up in the direction of the open sea, where quite often whitetip reef sharks can be seen.
Full moon night dive on the wall. This picturesque bay, surrounded by majestic cliffs and hills, offers excellent diving with a great variety of marine life. White sandy bottom and exceptionally clear cool water and there are over many species of hard corals, plus numerous species of soft corals, colorful reef.
Illustrations of Candidasa Dive Site
| Type of Dive | : | Boat diving, Reef-diving, Wall-diving, Drift-diving |
| Visibility | : | 15 - 30 meters. Variable, poor to very good |
| Current | : | Zero to mild currents. Can be extremely strong and unpredictable |
| Temperatures | : | 190 - 280 C |
| Depths | : | 10 - 40 meters |
| Level | : | Beginner (the Blue Lagoon), advanced and experienced |
| Highlights | : | Shark cave (Mimpang, Tepekong, and Biaha), fair chance of big fish. Fantastic sandy beach. Cuttlefish, scorpion fish, crocodile fish (the Blue Lagoon). Many big pelagics. Scattered outcrops, fair variety coral |
| Conditions | : | Gently dropping slope, hard and soft coral, rocky steep slope in the open sea. Beautifully grown with hard coral. All varieties of reef fish. Reef slope. Currents can be tricky (up and down currents meeting horizontal currents) but on other days can be as calm as a millpond. It is an easy dive site, gentle white sand slope, excellent marine life. |