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Top Bali Dive Sites With Best Dive Spots
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DESCRIPTION OF TULAMBEN DIVING
Tulamben is a small town on the north-east coast of Bali. It is a popular dive site in Bali and it gets into the top 10 (ten) best diving sites in Bali, especially around the wreck of the Liberty Glo, a US Army Transport ship torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1942. It is a very easy wreck dive and may be done by all levels divers. It is accessed directly from the shoreline and located about 25 meters from shore. At it deepest point, it is about 30 meters from the surface and it tops out at about 5 meters from the surface. Tulamben receives very plankton rich water from the major ocean current that moves from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean or vice versa. The wreck, rocky wall and sand slopes provide a wide variety of physical habitats. All of these factors, combined together will explain why the Tulamben bay contains an incredible diversification of the underwater ecosystem. Tulamben is a wonderful place to learn to dive and to learn about underwater life. There are occasional sightings of Mola-Mola (Sunfish), Manta Rays, Whale Shark, Tuna and other pelagic but it is the permanent population of Tulamben that brings multinational divers to this dive site.
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The Liberty was motoring across the Lombok Strait in 1942, working as a cargo ship during World War II, when the ship was hit by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine. Two destroyers which had been accompanying her towed her toward Singaraja on Bali’s north coast. But she took on too much water and didn’t make it to Singaraja. Instead she was beached in Tulamben. The Liberty sat grounded in the shallow part of Tulamben bay for more than twenty years until Mount Agung erupted in 1963. The subsequent earthquakes caused the ship to roll out into deeper water and broke her at bow and stern. The Liberty lie approximately 30m offshore almost parallel to the beach on the sand slope and is suitable for all levels of qualification and experience. The wreck lies in depths from 9-30m; the shallowest part of the wreck, where it touches the sand slope, is at 5-10m. Depth along the middle of the wreck is 16-20m. The USS Liberty shipwreck possibly the world’s easiest wreck dive. This is the famous diving spot in Tulamben
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After the wreck the Tulamben drop-off is the most popular. The main wall is formed by the westernmost of three coral-covered lava spurs and the landmark is a very large gorgonian at almost 30 meters. The wall is also a great edge for black coral bushes home to schools of damselfish, bright juvenile butterfly fish, hawk fish and many more. |
Coral Garden in 5 to 20 meters of water is rich with hard corals and fire corals. The area is a very good spot for snorkeling, with acroporid hard corals and fire corals. The fish population is diverse, from large clown fish, angelfish, snappers, parrotfish to ribbon eels, frogfish and so many more. The proximity from the beach makes it a convenient site for night dives.
Batu Kelebit, less than one kilometer from the drop-off, may be the best site in the area to see big animals. This site is a series of steep, coral-covered ridges separated by sand channels. The coral is rich and healthy after 20 meters deep and the underwater topography is interesting.
Reef Type : the ship wreck of the Liberty , wall
Traveling Time : from Sanur 2 hours drive
Visibility : up to 20 meters
Current : rare current
Coral : encrusting animals on wreck, fine coral wall
Fish : superb numbers and variety
Highlights : night diving at full moon
Other : the area can be crowded in the middle of the day
Please contact us for more information about Bali dive trips or packages to Tulamben.
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DESCRIPTION OF NUSA PENIDA DIVING
Nusa Penida is a dry, limestone plateau covering about 200 square kilometers. According to the Balinese, Nusa Penida is a place with strange powers and should be treated with respect. This goes to the diving as well. Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida have more or less the same characteristics with water temperature, which varies from 20 to 27 degrees and the visibility between 10 to 25 meters depending on the weather.
The best time to dive here is from June to October even though the water temperature can get as low as 20 degrees due to up welling current. The north coast of Penida Island (nusa means island) is a more protected area than the south coast which faces the Indian Ocean. There is less coral growing up on the south coast than on the north coast.
On the west coast of Nusa Penida, there are three sites .napoleon fish. |
Toyapakeh, which in many people opinion is the best dive on Nusa Penida. The water is clear and the coral rich. The underwater topography here is very nice with great bummies corals and several kinds of beautiful soft corals. The fish life is also excellent, and the deeper areas offer chances to encounter molas, giant trevally, marble stingrays, tawny nurse sharks, schooling banner fish and
Gamat Bay site is in a small bay, which gives it a good protection from the swell. There are different types of soft and hard corals. There is also a good variety of fish like sweet lips, butterfly fish, yellow fusiliers, anthias and white tip reef sharks as well as mola-molas and tunas. Crystal Bay site is located on the south end of Toyapakeh strait and the conditions here can be tough. But as Gamat Bay, the marine life here is rich and diverse. This site is especially popular among divers to see mola-molas from July until October.
S.D., Ped, Sental, Tugu and Sampalan the five sites that stretch along the north coast of Nusa Penida are a very popular diving area. The structure of these sites is a slope going down to 30 meters. This area is very well protected from swell and there is less current than on the west coast of Nusa Penida. The coral is abundant and beautiful. There is also a large diversity of reef coral fish like sergeant fish, lionfish, moray eel, triggerfish, parrotfish and anemone fish.
Batu Nunggul, Karang Sari and Malibu Point on Penida east coast are much like the north coast. There are nice hard corals at 20 meters deep. The visibility is a bit better than on the north dive sites. There is also more schooling fish and more sharks as well but the current is stronger than in the north.
Batu Abah on the south east coast, facing the Lombok strait is for more experienced divers. The topography is a slope with strong current. There are here beautiful hard corals and big pelagics like sharks, mola-molas and tunas.
Batu Meling , Batu Lumbung , also called Manta Point, Penida south coast sites, are rough with strong swell. There are only few corals here, like leather corals, as well as white limestone. South Penida sites are only interesting to see big fish like sharks, tunas, mantas and mola-molas.
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On Lembongan Island, you can find Sampalan dive site and also Ental Point which also called Blue Corner is a site for experienced divers as the current here can be strong. The fish and coral life is not particularly rich but in season mola-mola can be seen. There are also marble stingray, eagle ray, white tip reef sharks, Napoleon and giant trivially. Jangka Point also called Mangrove Point site has a gradual slope profile and quiet a strong current. There is nice coral to be seen and it is a good area for drift diving. Ceningan Wall site is protected from the swell but still has a strong current. There is a beautiful coral reef with a good variety of fish like parrot fish, sweet lips, banner fish, eagle ray, tunas and white tip reef sharks. This site is suitable for experienced divers only.
Reef Type : flat, sandy-bottom mixed reef, walls
Traveling Time : from Sanur 30-50 minutes by speed boat
Visibility : up to 25 meters
Current : sometimes quite strong current
Coral : beautiful and healthy coral
Fish : superb numbers and variety
Highlights : Mola2 and Manta Ray
Other : some dive sites have choppy condition
Please contact us for more information about Bali dive trips or packages to Nusa Penida.
DESCRIPTION OF MENJANGAN DIVING Menjangan Island is a small island part of the West Bali National Park. The reefs of northwest Bali are the most protected dive sites in Bali which provides good diving any time of the year. Divers arrive at Labuhan Lalang a modest small harbor, with a few simple restaurants. The trip to Menjangan Island takes 30 minutes to an hour depending on the site. There are many dive sites around the island, but the best area is a stretch along the southeast and from far northwest down into the channel.
On the south west of Menjangan is Pos I site. There is not much to say about this area as this site is usually used as a diving training area for beginners as it is a nice protected slope with a white sandy bottom.
On the west coast is Garden Eel. This site is located on Menjangan Strait, and compared to the other sites of the island, current here is more frequent. It is a slope, with white sandy bottom at around 20 meters deep, and home to a large number of garden eels. There are also white tip sharks, turtles, jackfish, lionfish, leaf scorpion fish and banner fish. |
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Kapal Budak site, northwest of the island, has an old wooden shipwreck, dated from the early 19’th century. Dive guides at Menjangan call it the Ankerat as the anchor lies in the shallows at about 6 meters. The encrusted chain leads you down the wall to 35 meters, where a second anchor and the wreck itself are. The deepest part of the wreck is home to whip corals, sponges and gorgonians. The reef wall is nicely rugged, with overhangs, shallow caves, shelves and cracks.
On the east coast of Menjangan is the Bat Cave site. Here you can dive down to 30 meters with a visibility up to 30 meters as well. The topography of the area is a stiff slope, rich of gorgonians and several types of corals. White tip reef sharks and turtles can be encountered in this area. There are also many species of fish like batfish, triggerfish, angelfish, butterfly fish, damselfish and anemone fish.
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Going down to the south east of the island is Pos II site, which gets its name from the island National Park guardian house. This site is an extension to Bat Cave site, with a beautiful 35 meters wall, covered by sponges and sea fan. At 12 meters deep there is a large cave with a narrow entry (around 3 meters) that leads to a large chamber where there is a window, which lets the light go through. |
Reef Type : flat, sandy-bottom mixed reef, walls
Traveling Time : from Sanur 3 hours drive, then 30 minutes by boat
Visibility : up to 30 meters
Current : gentle
Coral : abundant number, variety, soft corals
Fish : batfish, white tip reef sharks, lionfish, pigmy seahorse, ghost pipefish
Highlights : shipwreck of the Ankerat
Other : large variety of parrotfish
Please contact us for more information about Bali dive trips or packages to Menjangan Island.
DESCRIPTION OF GILI TEPEKONG DIVING
Amuk Bay offers some of the best diving in Bali but its sites are also among the most difficult and dangerous areas to dive. It is a place to be both patient and careful. There are three sites, the islands of Gili Tepekong, Mimpang and Gili Biaha, which should be treated with caution and respect. The water here is also cold and a 3mm wet suit is recommended.
Gili Tepekong is the most famous of the Amuk Bay sites. “The Canyon” a striking structure begins at the southwest corner of the island going down to 40 meters. At fifteen meters, halfway down the island side of the Canyon, a flat-topped spur projects straight out. The great scale of its structure and the huge schools of fish like sweetlips, jacks, big troupers, sharks, and pelagics like molas make this site an exciting dive. Nevertheless, this amazing structure that makes the Canyon so beautiful also makes it dangerous. When the current combines with swell, a strong spiraling down current develops. Therefore, dives should be prepared very carefully with a local guide and never dive unless you are confident the conditions are safe.
Mimpang Island is a group of four rocky outcrops northwest of Gili Tepekong. Mimpang is southern end drops off sharply to deep water but the north becomes shallow. The southern end of the reef is one of the richest in Bali. This site is a combination of wall and sloping reefs, jagged rocks and boulders, hard corals, soft corals and gorgonians. The fish life is rich, including schooling fish, sharks and molas. Current conditions can be difficult here, like the rest of Amuk Bay therefore dives need to be planned carefully.
Biaha Island is a rocky outcrop northeast of Gili Tepekong. A very healthy reef surrounds the island, about half of it is wall and the other half is a cobbled slope. Biaha is not as popular as the other two islands but here can be found fascinating smaller species such as cuttlefish, octopus, nudibranchs, rich soft corals, gorgonians and black corals. Like the other sites, heavy swells can create problems and strong currents can make it dangerous for boats to get close to the island, so always be aware and prepare the dives carefully with a local guide.
Reef Type : fat, sandy-bottom mixed reef, walls
Traveling Time : from Sanur 1 hour drive, then 25 minutes by boat
Visibility : up to 20 meters
Coral : varying outcrops
Fish : good variety
Highlights : titan triggerfish, sting rays, molas and sharks.
Other : underwater canyon, steep coral wall
Please contact us for more information about Bali dive trips or packages to Candidasa. |
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DESCRIPTION OF PADANG BAI DIVING
Padang Bai is a nice village on Bali east coast. The ferry, which links Bali to Lombok, runs through the channel several times a day as well as many smaller boats. It is therefore important to dive here with a signal device and to surface away from that area.
Blue Lagoon is a coastal site just round the corner from Padang Bai. The topography is a gentle slope, white sand bottom. Water conditions here are generally good and the visibility is around 15 meters. It is a good site for macro photographers. It is just a couple of meters deep except for the channel. Blue Lagoon is an excellent site for sharks, turtles as well as small animals, such as nudibranchs, shrimps, crabs, squids and octopus. Snake eels, razor fish and sea cucumber can also be seen. The shallow is also rich with corals. This area is also good for night dives as bamboo sharks and spanish dancers can be encountered.
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Reef Type : flat, sandy-bottom mixed reef, walls
Traveling Time : from Sanur 1 hour drive, then 10 minutes by boat
Visibility : up to 20 meters
Current : gentle. rarely 1 knot
Coral : varying outcrops
Fish : good variety
Highlights : titan triggerfish, sting rays
Other : underwater canyon, steep coral wall
Please contact us for more information about Bali dive trips or packages to Padang Bai. |
DESCRIPTION OF AMED DIVING
Amed also called Cemeluk is situated in a quiet bay just a few kilometers east of Tulamben. The conditions from shore or boat are usually easy with good visibility. Amed Reef has many different kinds of sponges and gorgonians but also shrimp, goby sets, and blue spotted rays. White tip reef sharks, napoleon wrasse are sometimes encountered and the deep slope after the wall is rich in invertebrates with crinoids.
Lipah Bay site is a quiet black sandy bay, 3 kilometers southeast of Amed. The main interest of this dive site is a 20 meter, steel freighter wreck that sits at 6 to 12 meters inside the bay where the reef goes to sand. The wreck is encrusted with gorgonians, sponges and black coral bushes. There is a slope down away from the wreck, which is also rich in gorgonians and some unusual species. The fish life here is quite good as well with shrimpfish, ghost pipefish, seahorses and dragon fish. The reef slopes down to black sand at about 20 meters and continues to little outcrops of life to 40 meters. The shallow water is rich with bummies and great schools of fusiliers, which make Lipah Bay a great site for snorkeling. However, some current or surge can spoil the moment, so make sure the conditions are right and you will have a wonderful dive.
Gili Selang is accessed by boat from Amed and it takes around 30 minutes to get there. This site is for the experienced divers only as the island is often exposed to strong currents. There is a rich life of soft and hard corals. You may also encounter black tip reef sharks. |
Reef Type : flat, sandy-bottom mixed reef (depth 12-22 meters), walls (10-35 meters)
Traveling Time : from Sanur 2 hours drive
Visibility : up to 25 meters
Current : gentle, rarely 1 knot
Coral : many kinds of sponges and gorgonians
Fish : blue-spotted rays, white tip reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, snapper and fusilier can also be found at the wall.
Highlights : titan triggerfish, sting rays, bump head parrotfish
Other : underwater canyon, steep coral wall.
Please contact us for more information about Bali dive trips or packages to Amed. |
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