On the following map you can see many of the dive sites around Bali. It's impossible however to show all locations for Scuba diving on this map, the space is simply to small to display them all here.. Visit the appropriate area pages to see more detailed maps and descriptions of most of the known dive sites around Bali and it's sister islands.
Click on the dive flags to visit relating page with detailed information about the dive site
Although underestimated by many divers and dive centers in Bali, the area of Sanur houses some nice dive sites with variable coral and possible encounters with reef shark as well as many different macro finds. Due to the very gradual sloping bottom of the area, limited visibility and mild currents can be found here depending on tides and other factors. Access is provided from local boats called "Jukung". View our page about Sanur with dive sites map.
Nusa Penida Dive Sites
Nusa Penida is one of Bali's sister islands to the east which lies approx. in the middle between Bali and Lombok in the Lombok Strait. The dive sites around Penida are known for their crystal clear waters with sometimes chilling cold upwellings from the deep oceanic basin of the Indian ocean, south of Bali.
Nusa Penida and the accompanying island's Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan are the appropriate place for drift diving and encounters with large pelagic fish like Manta Rays and Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola). The reefs are very pristine and variable around these islands and beside the large fish, there are also many macro opportunities here. Squat lobsters in Crinoids (featherstars), frogfish, reef sharks and when you lucky turtles and passing dolphins (although rare) can be seen around these islands.
The central coast dive sites are situated and accessed from Padangbai and Candidasa. Beside some dive locations at the coast of Padangbai, this is the place to visit the Gili islands of Bali; Gili Mimpang, Gili Tepekong and Gili Biaha. Like the island of Nusa Penida, these Gili islands can offer great encounters with large pelagics and sharks, but also inhabit the change of an challenging strong current which make these locations an inappropriate place for beginning divers..
At the west-side of Bali, near the ferry to Java, there are a great diversity of dive sites mainly around Menjangan island (Deer island) with it's beautiful wall-dives and the Muck diving location with strange critters known by the name "Secret bay" (aka Gilimanuk bay).
The dive sites of Bali's north-east coast around Tulamben are mainly situated on a nutrient rich bottom composition of volcanic black sand and rocks. Undoubly one of the best and easiest wreck dives of the world can be found here at the remains of the USAT Liberty, a 120m victim of the second world war. Beside this famous wreck, there are some beautiful locations with abundance of marine life which are loved by underwater photographers who keep returning here time after time. Large bumphead parrot fish, Sweetlips, Garden eels, Batfish, a huge 'house' Barracuda, Large school of Big eyed trevally and different types of Pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus denise & bargibanti) are among the inhabitants of this area.
Amed's dive sites resemble nearly the same bottom and topography as the dive sites of the Tulamben area and the marine species that can be found here are also comparable. During the last few years there has been great developments for the diving tourism around this area with new accommodations and dive centers constructed. Beside some dives accessable from shore, many diving locations here are visited by local boat (Jukung). It is possible also to visit Gili Selang from here.
Other Dive Sites Around Bali
Basically there are many places at the north coast of Bali that have very good conditions for Scuba diving with abundance of underwater life and critters. Many sites have however not been surveiled yet and carry no particular names. A dive site called "Puri Jati" gets more popular since recent years and is loved by the serious underwater photographers and muck divers.
Although surfers and tourists enjoy Bali' s south west coast, the high surf usually makes this area too rough for Scuba diving. Most divesites are on Bali' s lesser exposed east and north/west coast.
Why Bali As Scuba Diving Destination
While many divers pass Bali on the way to destinations like Komodo, Raja Ampat, Flores, Lembeh, Sumba and other places, Bali is only gaining popularity with Scuba divers during the last few years and was pretty unknown as a diving destination untill fairly recently..
Bali however has all what a Scuba diver can be dreaming of; From the easy dives with comfortable water temperatures in the north part with the well known and coral encrusted shipwreck of the USAT Liberty in Tulamben and Muck diving at Puri Jati / Tukad Dabu (aka Seraya Secrets) to the pristine reefs with large pelagics (Ocean Sunfish and Manta Rays) at Bali's sister islands which carries the names Nusa Penida, Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan.
Scientist continue to discover new species here, some of which are believed to be endemic. The island' s rich bio-diversity is one of our many blessings. This small area may well represent the most biologically diverse undersea environment on earth. Bali is an absolute heaven for serious underwater photographers and minute sea-creature lovers who will find macro subjects like Shrimps, rare nudibranchs and mandarin fish.
While many of Bali' s abundant species are small, divers may also interact with large marine creatures like Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) and Manta Rays (Manta birostris) which are found around Nusa Penida year-round. On the large end of the scale but rarely seen are migrating Whales, Dolphins, the occasional Whale shark, Hammerhead sharks, Tiger and Leopard sharks, which cruise to Bali's Sea from the ocean.
From the smallest macro opportunities to large pelagics and sharks, Bali has it all!
Coral Triangle
