Dive In Nusa Penida
THERE are 3 islands off the southeast coast of Bali: Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan. The wide variety of dive locations here include sites in crystal clear waters, coral walls, and pelagic. Each site has its own offerings of marine life and presents the extensive barrier reef. This site is perfect for divers of all skill levels.
Nusa Penida is the largest with the water here is fairly cold but often startlingly clear, with gorgeous corals and prolific fish, some turtle and shark. The majority of diving at Nusa Penida is drift-diving and the currents are not always predictable. It's only suitable for experienced divers. Currents can be strong.
Nusa Penida diving offers all the superlatives that make a diver's mouth water, including sharks (even gray reefs, silver tips, and oceanic white tips), sea turtles, molas, pristine hard coral reefs, deepwater wire corals, healthy fishes, and the kind of stunningly clear visibility that refuses to quit until the whole ocean glows a deep, rich blue.
Besides Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan has some fine coral and a profusion of reef fish but watch out for the currents there - they can be pretty strong. Nusa Lembongan is actually one of the three sister islands of Bali. White sandy bottom and crystal clear, cool water present you with assorted fish and marine vegetation. Underwater grottos are the wonders of this area. The same goes for Nusa Ceningan.
Nusa Penida have several dive sites such as:
Toyapakeh
Located on the island's northwest point in Ceningan Channel, Toyapakeh is Nusa Penida's most popular dive site. This popularity is deserved and not only because it is partially protected from the current flowing through the strait between Penida and Ceningan, but also due to the good visibility and rich coral. In addition to the coral reef, with big gorgonians, that provide excellent places to find fish and other marine life.
What makes Toyapakeh special is its structure: those great pillars of coral. The water is clear, the coral is rich, and the bay, does offer some protection from the strong current flowing through the strait. The underwater topography here is very nice within particular being made up of great coral boulders and pillars. Many bluetrigger fish, giant trevally, sharks, and some encounters with big pelagic is common.
The protection these bommies provide makes Toyapakeh where you can see big gorgonians and soft coral bushes. The fish life here is also excellent, and the deeper areas offer chance encounters with molas and other pelagics. The reef is down to around 40 m and very healthy. The shallow area is excellent for snorkeling. The water is crystal clear with visibility up to 30 m.
This is a very nice spot as it is protected from swell and current. Although the current is sometimes strong, usually negotiable. The current here often heads north-east, which makes for an easy and pleasant drift-dive however the current in shallow water and the current in deeper water are sometimes going in different directions, therefore the direction of your dive can change as you alter your depth.
Ental Point (Blue Corner)
Located off the point of Nusa Lembongan, a long thin island just northwest of Nusa Penida and is a very popular drift dive. Having done a back roll off the boat, you descend to a slope starting at 10 m with soft corals, puffer, and boxfish. However the current can be strong, and can try to pull you downwards. The current takes you round to the point, the corner, where there is a vertical wall, depth around 28 m.
Blue Corner is usually full of fish as well as shark, big napoleon wrasse, eagle rays, and other marine life. Consider one of the best places to see sunfish. The marine life is similar to SD Point but not as rich. Please note that it is not always possible to reach the corner due to the speed and direction of the currents.
This site is a sparse, sloping reef with a terrace at 20-30 m. The dive starts east of the point, and you are swept in a drift west to the corner, whence you head south inside the bay to seek some protection. The fish and coral life here is not particulary rich, and the current starts out strong and gets worse as you approach the point. Even very experienced divers have been known to panic here.
The reason Ental is a dive site at all is because, in season, molas are seen here. Molas are also seen at other sites such as Toyapakeh, North Penida, and Gili Mimpang, and these areas have far richer reefs and more enjoyable conditions.
Sental, Ped, and SD Point
These sites are located on the coral reef that runs the length of Nusa Penida's north coast and offers great drift-diving. This reef is richest at SD Point, but at Ped and Sental it has suffered both as a result of coral-bleaching after El Nino in 1998 and boats anchoring into the coral. The reef has a lot of soft corals, and also many kinds of fish, such as sweetlips, lionfish, moray eel, scorpion fish, whitetip shark, and napoleon fish.
The reef is mainly a steep slope with flattened, by the current, barrel sponges and some stretches of deep wall (particularly between Ped and Sental). The ever-present current means that you're always going to be drift-diving, although the currents can change direction during a dive, and can become quite fast - you may end up exiting at Toyapakeh. Visibility is usually 18-30 m.
SD Point, with the strong current flow in the area, generally there are many big fishes like giant trevally, sharks and sunfish (between July to September). Temperature may drop to around 20 C, so please be prepare. This place is suitable for divers who seeks higher adventure rate. The dive site is stretch for kilometers, along the north coast of Penida Island.
Sampalan
The sites is in the north side of Lembongan, the marine life is similar to SD Point with some high light of underwater structure that is quiet different. Some undertow is quiet common and thermocline is at deeper water. Some sloping is full of soft coral with reef fishes hover to get some nutrient from the rich water.
Lembongan Bay
The site is located in a protected area with many water sports and pontoons. The site is shallow, 5 to 10 m depths and offers some varieties of soft corals and hard corals. The coral is rich and healthy with many varieties of reef fish. It's good place to some beginner diver to experience some slight current and also for training. It's also good for snorkeling. The area is also suitable for surfers.
Crystal Bay
This small bay has a white sand base, and is covered with anemones and soft corals. The marinelife includes angelfish, sweetlips, and many moorish idols. Following the north side just come to a bat cave. Because this area is in Ceningan Channel, when there is a current present, and due to the coldness of the water from the Indian Ocean, there is definitely the opportunity to see white tip reef shark, eagle rays. and leopard shark.
Experience the underwater cave system starting at around 10 m of water and end up inside an opening in the bat cave. The location is located in a very nice white sandy beach lagoon. The current could be tricky with some drop off starting at around 20 m. The underwater structure is excellent with some variation of coral and alley.
Manta Point
Located on southwest coast of Nusa Penida and this is a limestone rock off Pandan Cape. This area of the coastline is dramatic limestone cliffs that descend straight into the ocean. The swell can be stupendous, sometimes making entry impossible by mid-morning. Manta Point rarely has a current, but sometimes has strong surge. The swell is usually quiet strong.
The above-water scenery is dramatic, with sheer limestone cliffs cut out by the monstrous swell that pounds this coast yearround. The swell is so strong that even uncomfortable. The profile is a down to 50 m, and there is no coral at all, just bare limestone rock. The only reason to dive this site is to see mantas, tiger mackerel, tuna, and other pelagics.
There is no real current here, just swell, but if it heavy this becomes a very dangerous site. You can be fogged around like a plastic bag underwater, or even shot to the surface. Don't get in the water here if the swell is strong (which is most of the time). If you can't tell, look at the cliffs. If spumes of water are shoting up trough blowholes, the swell is strong.
Malibu Point
Located on the far southeast of Nusa Penida, outside Suana Village. It is considered one of the nicest sites in the island besides SD Point and Toyapakeh. It's slightly wilder than Toyapakeh with great school of rainbow runner, trevally, and dog tooth tuna as are big rays in the sand, sharks, stingrays, some big table corals. The reef lies on a very steep slope, the topography of which is great with table corals and big bommies.
Malibu Point is the best place to see shark, which may be true. An oceanic white-tip would be an exhilarating sight but it's a different kind of exhilaration if your visibility is a mere five meters of gloom. However, the site is a long way from the mainland and is not always diveable due to the currents. At the northern end of the site, the currents can be very swirly.
On a good day, Malibu Point is one of the nicest sites on the island. The read has a lot of the character of the north coast, except that the structure is much more interesting, with big, rich bommies entending down to twenty-five meters. It is a bit like Toyapakeh in this regard, but it is also somehow wilder, with great schools of jacks and rainbow runners, and dogtooth tuna. And, of course, the sharks. Visibility is always good.
Gamat Bay
Located on the northwest of Nusa Penida, between Toyapakeh and Crystal Bay. In fact, Gamat Bay is one of the few dive sites at Nusa Penida that does not always require a drift dive. The Bay is protected from the currents although once you head down the steep slope at the mouth, you are again drift-diving.
The water is always clear, and the reef, a steep, rugged slope leading into the bay. You need your observation skill to see the macro things lay beneath the surface. It is full of small caves and crevices and number of reef fish and invertebrates here are exceptional. The permanent mooring allows you to descend to about 8 m, the bottom being sand, coral patches and bommies.
There is a profusion of colourful soft corals, with gorgonians and hard corals (including table corals) everywhere. These shallow areas are lovely, full of reef-fish, commensals, nudibranches, and could take your whole dive, particularly if you are a photographer (although it can be surgey). Visibility is usually superb within the bay.
The very rich of the slope also has some big bommies that provide some protection from the current (more of an uphill swoosh). The larger fish life here is fairly diverse with some large specimens of surgeonfish, grouper and unicornfish. Overhangs and a couple of small caves provide resting places for white tips and turtle (also sometimes seen in the bay itself).
Illustrations of Nusa Penida Dive Site
Nusa Penida is the largest with the water here is fairly cold but often startlingly clear, with gorgeous corals and prolific fish, some turtle and shark. The majority of diving at Nusa Penida is drift-diving and the currents are not always predictable. It's only suitable for experienced divers. Currents can be strong.
Nusa Penida diving offers all the superlatives that make a diver's mouth water, including sharks (even gray reefs, silver tips, and oceanic white tips), sea turtles, molas, pristine hard coral reefs, deepwater wire corals, healthy fishes, and the kind of stunningly clear visibility that refuses to quit until the whole ocean glows a deep, rich blue.
Besides Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan has some fine coral and a profusion of reef fish but watch out for the currents there - they can be pretty strong. Nusa Lembongan is actually one of the three sister islands of Bali. White sandy bottom and crystal clear, cool water present you with assorted fish and marine vegetation. Underwater grottos are the wonders of this area. The same goes for Nusa Ceningan.
Nusa Penida have several dive sites such as:
Toyapakeh
Located on the island's northwest point in Ceningan Channel, Toyapakeh is Nusa Penida's most popular dive site. This popularity is deserved and not only because it is partially protected from the current flowing through the strait between Penida and Ceningan, but also due to the good visibility and rich coral. In addition to the coral reef, with big gorgonians, that provide excellent places to find fish and other marine life.
What makes Toyapakeh special is its structure: those great pillars of coral. The water is clear, the coral is rich, and the bay, does offer some protection from the strong current flowing through the strait. The underwater topography here is very nice within particular being made up of great coral boulders and pillars. Many bluetrigger fish, giant trevally, sharks, and some encounters with big pelagic is common.
The protection these bommies provide makes Toyapakeh where you can see big gorgonians and soft coral bushes. The fish life here is also excellent, and the deeper areas offer chance encounters with molas and other pelagics. The reef is down to around 40 m and very healthy. The shallow area is excellent for snorkeling. The water is crystal clear with visibility up to 30 m.
This is a very nice spot as it is protected from swell and current. Although the current is sometimes strong, usually negotiable. The current here often heads north-east, which makes for an easy and pleasant drift-dive however the current in shallow water and the current in deeper water are sometimes going in different directions, therefore the direction of your dive can change as you alter your depth.
Ental Point (Blue Corner)
Located off the point of Nusa Lembongan, a long thin island just northwest of Nusa Penida and is a very popular drift dive. Having done a back roll off the boat, you descend to a slope starting at 10 m with soft corals, puffer, and boxfish. However the current can be strong, and can try to pull you downwards. The current takes you round to the point, the corner, where there is a vertical wall, depth around 28 m.
Blue Corner is usually full of fish as well as shark, big napoleon wrasse, eagle rays, and other marine life. Consider one of the best places to see sunfish. The marine life is similar to SD Point but not as rich. Please note that it is not always possible to reach the corner due to the speed and direction of the currents.
This site is a sparse, sloping reef with a terrace at 20-30 m. The dive starts east of the point, and you are swept in a drift west to the corner, whence you head south inside the bay to seek some protection. The fish and coral life here is not particulary rich, and the current starts out strong and gets worse as you approach the point. Even very experienced divers have been known to panic here.
The reason Ental is a dive site at all is because, in season, molas are seen here. Molas are also seen at other sites such as Toyapakeh, North Penida, and Gili Mimpang, and these areas have far richer reefs and more enjoyable conditions.
Sental, Ped, and SD Point
These sites are located on the coral reef that runs the length of Nusa Penida's north coast and offers great drift-diving. This reef is richest at SD Point, but at Ped and Sental it has suffered both as a result of coral-bleaching after El Nino in 1998 and boats anchoring into the coral. The reef has a lot of soft corals, and also many kinds of fish, such as sweetlips, lionfish, moray eel, scorpion fish, whitetip shark, and napoleon fish.
The reef is mainly a steep slope with flattened, by the current, barrel sponges and some stretches of deep wall (particularly between Ped and Sental). The ever-present current means that you're always going to be drift-diving, although the currents can change direction during a dive, and can become quite fast - you may end up exiting at Toyapakeh. Visibility is usually 18-30 m.
SD Point, with the strong current flow in the area, generally there are many big fishes like giant trevally, sharks and sunfish (between July to September). Temperature may drop to around 20 C, so please be prepare. This place is suitable for divers who seeks higher adventure rate. The dive site is stretch for kilometers, along the north coast of Penida Island.
Sampalan
The sites is in the north side of Lembongan, the marine life is similar to SD Point with some high light of underwater structure that is quiet different. Some undertow is quiet common and thermocline is at deeper water. Some sloping is full of soft coral with reef fishes hover to get some nutrient from the rich water.
Lembongan Bay
The site is located in a protected area with many water sports and pontoons. The site is shallow, 5 to 10 m depths and offers some varieties of soft corals and hard corals. The coral is rich and healthy with many varieties of reef fish. It's good place to some beginner diver to experience some slight current and also for training. It's also good for snorkeling. The area is also suitable for surfers.
Crystal Bay
This small bay has a white sand base, and is covered with anemones and soft corals. The marinelife includes angelfish, sweetlips, and many moorish idols. Following the north side just come to a bat cave. Because this area is in Ceningan Channel, when there is a current present, and due to the coldness of the water from the Indian Ocean, there is definitely the opportunity to see white tip reef shark, eagle rays. and leopard shark.
Experience the underwater cave system starting at around 10 m of water and end up inside an opening in the bat cave. The location is located in a very nice white sandy beach lagoon. The current could be tricky with some drop off starting at around 20 m. The underwater structure is excellent with some variation of coral and alley.
Manta Point
Located on southwest coast of Nusa Penida and this is a limestone rock off Pandan Cape. This area of the coastline is dramatic limestone cliffs that descend straight into the ocean. The swell can be stupendous, sometimes making entry impossible by mid-morning. Manta Point rarely has a current, but sometimes has strong surge. The swell is usually quiet strong.
The above-water scenery is dramatic, with sheer limestone cliffs cut out by the monstrous swell that pounds this coast yearround. The swell is so strong that even uncomfortable. The profile is a down to 50 m, and there is no coral at all, just bare limestone rock. The only reason to dive this site is to see mantas, tiger mackerel, tuna, and other pelagics.
There is no real current here, just swell, but if it heavy this becomes a very dangerous site. You can be fogged around like a plastic bag underwater, or even shot to the surface. Don't get in the water here if the swell is strong (which is most of the time). If you can't tell, look at the cliffs. If spumes of water are shoting up trough blowholes, the swell is strong.
Malibu Point
Located on the far southeast of Nusa Penida, outside Suana Village. It is considered one of the nicest sites in the island besides SD Point and Toyapakeh. It's slightly wilder than Toyapakeh with great school of rainbow runner, trevally, and dog tooth tuna as are big rays in the sand, sharks, stingrays, some big table corals. The reef lies on a very steep slope, the topography of which is great with table corals and big bommies.
Malibu Point is the best place to see shark, which may be true. An oceanic white-tip would be an exhilarating sight but it's a different kind of exhilaration if your visibility is a mere five meters of gloom. However, the site is a long way from the mainland and is not always diveable due to the currents. At the northern end of the site, the currents can be very swirly.
On a good day, Malibu Point is one of the nicest sites on the island. The read has a lot of the character of the north coast, except that the structure is much more interesting, with big, rich bommies entending down to twenty-five meters. It is a bit like Toyapakeh in this regard, but it is also somehow wilder, with great schools of jacks and rainbow runners, and dogtooth tuna. And, of course, the sharks. Visibility is always good.
Gamat Bay
Located on the northwest of Nusa Penida, between Toyapakeh and Crystal Bay. In fact, Gamat Bay is one of the few dive sites at Nusa Penida that does not always require a drift dive. The Bay is protected from the currents although once you head down the steep slope at the mouth, you are again drift-diving.
The water is always clear, and the reef, a steep, rugged slope leading into the bay. You need your observation skill to see the macro things lay beneath the surface. It is full of small caves and crevices and number of reef fish and invertebrates here are exceptional. The permanent mooring allows you to descend to about 8 m, the bottom being sand, coral patches and bommies.
There is a profusion of colourful soft corals, with gorgonians and hard corals (including table corals) everywhere. These shallow areas are lovely, full of reef-fish, commensals, nudibranches, and could take your whole dive, particularly if you are a photographer (although it can be surgey). Visibility is usually superb within the bay.
The very rich of the slope also has some big bommies that provide some protection from the current (more of an uphill swoosh). The larger fish life here is fairly diverse with some large specimens of surgeonfish, grouper and unicornfish. Overhangs and a couple of small caves provide resting places for white tips and turtle (also sometimes seen in the bay itself).
Illustrations of Nusa Penida Dive Site
| Type of Dive | : | Boat diving, Drift-diving |
| Visibility | : | 15 - 40 meters |
| Current | : | Mild to strong currents, constanty changing |
| Temperatures | : | 210 - 290 C |
| Depths | : | 6 - 40 meters |
| Level | : | Open water with some experience |
| Highlights | : | Dolphin, giant turtles, barracuda, shark, manta ray. Mola-Mola (sunfish) in season. Many pelagics. Large schools of sweetlips, turtles. Many varieties of reef fish, amazingly different fish shoals, excellent visibility, big fish. |
| Conditions | : | Gently dropping slope. There are dive sites all around Nusa Penida's northern coast. Very good varieties of hard and soft corals; grown very dense, slopes and drop-offs. The water can get pretty cold at times. Being drift-diving, it is not easy to take photographs here. |