Share The LOVE An Ultimate Guide To Nusa Penida Diving Nusa Penida diving offers an extraordinary underwater experience just south of Bali. This island and its neighbours, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, form a trio of diving hotspots known for their diverse marine ecosystems and thrilling dive sites. Scuba diving around the island is renowned for its exhilarating drift dives, where divers can glide along underwater currents while observing vibrant coral reefs and abundant marine life. The island’s waters are home to various species, including manta rays, the mola-mola, a scuba diver’s bucket list fish, schooling pelagics and many species of colourful reef fish. Nusa Penida’s diving can cater to divers of all levels, from beginners to advanced, with some secluded sites available. The area’s dive centres typically provide essential scuba equipment, including 5mm wetsuits and decent fins, to ensure comfort in the sometimes challenging currents. With its crystal-clear waters and stunning underwater topography, Nusa Penida offers a truly unforgettable diving adventure. Why Dive Nusa Penida? Nusa Penida diving is renowned as Bali, Indonesia’s premier destination for encountering large marine creatures. Divers across the globe come to these waters to witness the thrilling sight of majestic manta rays and the elusive mola mola (sunfish). The island’s northern sites offer exhilarating drift dives, allowing divers to ‘fly’ over stunning underwater landscapes, creating awesome scuba experiences to check off your scuba list. Accessibility and Diverse Dive Sites Nusa Penida Island diving need not be a pipe dream for divers. After arriving at Bali’s international airport in Denpasar, nusa Penida is a short boat ride from Sanur. Transfers and boat tickets can easily be arranged in advance. It is also easily accessible from neighbouring Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. This trio of islands boasts a variety of dive sites, each offering unique experiences and marine ecosystems. The area caters to divers of all skill levels, from vibrant coral gardens to dramatic wall dives, making it an excellent destination for all scuba diving fans. Visibility and Ecosystems Nusa Penida scuba diving is characterized by exceptional water clarity, with visibility often exceeding 40 meters during peak seasons. With thriving coral reefs and abundant marine life, this remarkable visibility creates an underwater paradise for divers. The healthy ecosystems support diverse species, from tiny nudibranchs to large pelagic fish. Whereas other Indonesian dive destinations, such as the Lembeh Strait, offer the best muck diving on the planet, Nusa Penida provides a different but equally captivating diving experience, showcasing the diversity of Indonesia’s marine wonderland. The Best Time For Nusa Penida Diving Nusa Penida diving is possible year-round, but the optimal period is from July to October. This timeframe coincides with the arrival of mola mola, a highly sought-after species among divers. During this season, Nusa Penida Island diving offers increased chances of encountering these elusive creatures, with some divers reporting multiple sightings in a single dive. Water temperatures for Nusa Penida scuba diving can vary significantly, ranging from 24-29°C on average, with occasional thermoclines dropping temperatures to 18-20°C. Divers should be prepared with layered wetsuit options, including 3mm and 5mm suits, to accommodate these temperature fluctuations and ensure their comfort during dives. The Best Time For Nusa Lembongan Diving Unlike some dive destinations, Lembongan Island scuba diving is available throughout the year, with the calmest water conditions occurring from November to May. This period offers excellent visibility and more comfortable diving conditions, making it a great choice for your diving adventure, no matter when you plan to visit Bali. Lembongan is a stone’s throw away from Nusa Penida, so dive operators on both islands will dive the entire area. While diving is possible in all seasons, avoiding the rainy season in January and February is advisable. Water temperatures in Lembongan mirror those of Nusa Penida, ranging from 24-29°C with potential cold currents. Divers should come prepared with various wetsuit options to adapt to changing conditions and ensure an enjoyable diving experience. Diving with Manta Rays and Mola Mola Nusa Penida diving is world renowned for its manta ray encounters, particularly at Manta Point and Manta Bay. These sites offer year-round sightings, peak seasons from April to May, and October to November. Divers often witness these graceful creatures feeding, cleaning, or gliding through the water. The manta rays in this area can reach wingspans of up to 5 meters, providing an awe-inspiring spectacle. Nusa Penida Island diving is one of the few places worldwide where you can reliably spot mola mola (sunfish). Crystal Bay, Toyapakeh, and Blue Corner are prime locations for these encounters from July to October. Mola mola typically appear at depths between 15 and 30 meters, often near cleaning stations. Due to upwellings, water temperatures during mola season can drop to 16°C, requiring proper thermal protection for divers. Beyond the megafauna, Nusa Penida scuba diving offers a diverse underwater topography. The area features dramatic wall dives at sites like SD and Sental, where divers can observe rare macro life such as pygmy seahorses and ghost pipefish. Strong currents around the island create nutrient-rich waters, supporting vibrant hard and soft coral ecosystems, particularly at sites like Ped and Suana. These conditions make Nusa Penida, like Raja Ampat, one of the best places to scuba dive for big marine life and intricate reef ecosystems. The Top Dive Sites in Nusa Penida Nusa Penida and the surrounding islands offer world-class diving comparable to other regions of Indonesia. With breathtaking underwater landscapes and a rich marine biodiversity with species not found elsewhere in the country, the island attracts scuba divers from around the globe. Accessibility and beauty make Nusa Penida a very compelling choice. Here are some of the most popular dive sites in the area. Crystal Bay Crystal Bay is a must-visit dive site in Nusa Penida. It is famous for its seasonal sightings of the elusive Mola Mola, or Oceanic Sunfish. Divers arrive here between July and October when the calmer waters bring these gentle giants closer to the surface. The site is not only about Mola Molas; it also boasts a diverse array of marine life, including vibrant coral reefs and a variety of tropical fish, making it one of the best places to scuba dive on the island. However, diving here can be challenging due to strong currents, particularly near the drop-off points. Having some experience before diving in Crystal Bay is advisable, especially if you want to make the most of the Nusa Penida diving experience without compromising your safety. Manta Point Manta Point is one of the most sought-after dive sites in Nusa Penida, scuba diving for those eager to witness manta rays in their natural habitat. The site is a known cleaning station where manta rays gather year-round, allowing divers to get an up-close view of these graceful creatures as they glide through the water. The depth range here is 5 to 30 metres, making it accessible for divers of various experience levels. This place offers encounters with the ever-scarce manta ray in a serene and mesmerizing environment, solidifying its reputation as a premier spot for Nusa Penida scuba diving. In addition to the rays, the surrounding coral formations and other marine life add to the enduring appeal of this dive site. SD Point SD Point is a favourite among divers who enjoy drift diving. The site is characterized by its strong currents, which sweep divers along a beautiful coral-covered slope teeming with marine life. This area is known for its healthy coral gardens and abundant colourful fish species, making it a vibrant and dynamic diving experience. SD Point suits divers of all skill levels, although you should have experience drift diving. It’s a fantastic spot to explore if you’re looking for the best places to scuba dive in Bali that offer excitement and a stunning underwater landscape. Toyapakeh Toyapakeh is often regarded as one of the most biodiverse dive sites in Nusa Penida, offering a vibrant underwater world. The site features an array of coral formations providing habitats for various marine species, including reef fish, rays, and sometimes even Mola Mola. The currents at Toyapakeh can be strong, making it a site best for experienced divers. However, the rewards are immense, with the chance to see an extraordinary range of marine life in a relatively compact area. For those scuba diving in Bali, Toyapakeh is a prime location to include in your Nusa Penida island diving itinerary. To Wrap it Up Nusa Penida diving offers an unparalleled underwater experience, combining thrilling encounters with megafauna and vibrant reef ecosystems. From the graceful manta rays at Manta Point to the elusive mola at Crystal Bay, the island’s diverse dive sites cater to various interests and skill levels. The unique topography and rich marine biodiversity make it a standout destination within the Indonesian archipelago. If you are an avid scuba diver, Nusa Penida is a destination that deserves your attention. Its accessibility, world-class dive sites, and the opportunity to witness rare marine species make it a premier location. Whether you’re an experienced diver seeking challenging drift dives or a novice looking to explore colourful coral gardens, Nusa Penida offers an unforgettable underwater adventure. We work with several dive operators in the area. If you are planning a scuba trip to Bali, do not hesitate to get in touch. Written By: Mojo Rising An avid diver, marine conservationist and plant-based athlete. I roam the globe looking for the best places to scuba, documenting my journey as I go. See author's posts
