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Bali overview
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Scuba Diving in Bali, Indonesia
Water temperature: |
27°C (79°F) from July to December, 29°C (84°F) in January and February |
Suit: |
3mm shortie or full length wetsuit |
Visibility: |
10 - 50 metres range (30 - 165 feet), 15 - 30 metres is normal (50 - 100 feet) |
Type of diving: |
Wrecks, reefs, walls, night dives, shore diving and drift diving with good photographic opportunities |
Marine life: |
Sharks, ocean sunfish, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, morays, cuttlefish, octopus, scorpionfish, pipefish, leaffish, angelfish, nudibranchs etc |
When to go: |
August to September is a good time to spot ocean sunfish |
How to get there: |
From the UK - Flights go to Bali from London via Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Frankfurt and Hong Kong. Fly with Singapore Airlines, British Airways or Malaysia Airlines |
Bali offers an exceptional diving experience for all levels of divers, and variety of dive sites. Dives on shipwrecks, vertical drop-offs, sand slopes, black volcanic outcrops and limestone shores, amongst huge bommies, in roaring currents or quiet bays, along deep coral covered ridges or over seagrass beds, Bali can offer it all. Above the water the physical and cultural beauty of the island is legendary, which means there is always something to do or see for you and your family during your surface intervals. The combination of beautiful, varied diving and plenty to do on shore makes Bali a great holiday destination.
Tulamben
Tulamben is one of the most famous diving areas in Bali. Tulamben Bay, is situated in the world's richest marine biogeographic zone with more than 2500 different species of fish and 700 corals. Situated on the northeast coast, the bay receives very plankton rich water from the major ocean current that moves from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean and vice versa.
Amed
Amed is located on the northeast coast of Bali, about 2.5 hours drive from Kuta. If you stay overnight at Tulamben it will take approximately 20 minutes to drive there. From a landscape point of view, Amed is much prettier than Tulamben. You will see many rice fields along the way, traditional salt-panning and also sandy beaches as opposed to Tulamben's stony beaches.
This reef at Amed was discovered as a dive site in 1984. In April and May 1998, it was badly affected by coral bleaching as a result of El Nino down to a depth of 12 metres. The upper reef is slowly recovering, but it is uncertain when it will return to its original splendour. The deeper reef fared better with the gorgonians and corals untouched.
Menjangan
Located in the northwest of Bali, Menjangan Island is part of West Bali National Park, declared in 1982. Entry and diving on the island is controlled by the Park Service. In 1978 Menjangan became Bali's first internationally recognized diving location due to its beautiful flat reef. In 1997 the extensive flat reef at the island suffered damage from crown of thorns starfish, and in again in 1998 from coral bleaching as a result of El Nino. However the walls for which Menjangan is most famous are still in excellent condition.
Although the best diving in Menjangan Island is during the southeast monsoon (April to November) you can dive here anytime of the year, choosing sites on the north or south of the island depending on the direction of the wind. The visibility at Menjangan Island can at times be amazing - probably the best in Bali - especially in October and November with horizontal visibility of 50 metres +. Current here is very rare, even 1 knot of current is unusual around the island.
Padang Bai
Padang Bai, 1.5 hours drive from Kuta / Legian, offers some of the best diving in Bali. Sharks are seen on almost every dive, ocean sunfish are regularly spotted, fish life is exceptionally rich, the coral is healthy and the water is crystal clear. Padang Bai dive sites have strong currents and swell coming from the Lombok Strait, creating unpredictable water movements. This is a place to be both careful and respectful!
The South (Sanur and Nusa Dua Reefs)
The South is the tourist centre of Bali and many travellers spend their time in the area of Sanur, Kuta and Nusa Dua. The diving stretches along the front from Sanur to Nusa Dua, with a depth range of 2 -14 metres. If you don't have the time to visit Menjangan or Tulamben then you can consider diving here as an option but the coral and fish life is not that exceptional compared to the other dive sites around Bali.
Nusa Penida
Located 18km east of Sanur. approximately 30 minutes by boat, Nusa Penida offers the best diving to be found in Bali. Most of the dive sites around Nusa Penida and its two small sister islands, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, will be drift dives and the current can reach more than 4 knots. Upwellings from the deep water south of Bali keeps the visibility in these areas good but it can also form thermoclines with temperatures dropping down to 22°. Pelagics are the main attraction here and you have a good chance of seeihng jacks, mackerel, tuna, turtles and mantas. Sharks are also common and big mantas are frequently sighted. Perhaps the most unusual pelagic visitor to Nusa Penida is the unique mola mola or ocean sunfish sighted from August to September. This diving at Nusa Penida is suitable for more experienced divers.
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