Share The LOVE The Best Places to Scuba Dive in Bali Bali, known as the Island of the Gods, offers a paradise for scuba diving enthusiasts seeking unique adventures. The island captivates visitors with its lush green rice terraces, traditional gamelan music, fragrant frangipani blossoms, delicious inclusive cuisine, and rejuvenating Balinese massages. Bali, a dream destination for divers, beckons you with its world-class diving sites. The island’s waters promise a thrilling array of experiences, from abundant coral reefs teeming with marine life to the unique adventures of cave diving, muck diving, and technical diving. Traditional Balinese boats offer an authentic gateway to these underwater wonders, adding to the excitement of your diving journey. Whether you are a new or experienced diver, Bali invites you to immerse yourself in its rich culture and natural beauty above and below the surface. Let’s discuss the best places in Bali to go Scuba Diving! Amed Amed, a serene fishing village on the black sand coast of eastern Bali, offers scuba divers an authentic Balinese experience in a tranquil setting. The charm of diving in Amed lies not just in the traditional mode of transportation used to reach the dive sites but also in the peacefulness and beauty of the underwater world you’ll discover. Divers travel by a wooden outrigger boat commonly used by fishermen in Indonesia and the Philippines, though originating in Bali. These days, the Jukung boats are equipped with gasoline engines. You can reach most dive sites in a 10-15 minute boat ride. Beginning your dive day by gliding across the water’s surface in a traditional jukung boat provides an unforgettable and unique experience. It’s important to respect the local fishing traditions while enjoying the thrill of scuba diving in Amed’s waters. For example, greeting the local fishermen with a friendly wave or ‘Selamat Pagi’ (Good Morning) as you pass by is customary. Menjangan Island While most visitors stay in the southern part of Bali, the protected island of Menjangan lies at the western end, near the ferry to Java. Its remote location has kept it almost untouched, and is one of the best places to dive in Bali. Conservation efforts in the West Bali National Park have allowed the coral and ecosystem to thrive. As a result, Menjangan offers fantastic underwater colours in very shallow waters, making it an excellent destination for snorkelers, non-divers, and scuba divers. These efforts, led by local organizations such as [Conservation Organization Name], aim to protect and preserve Bali’s unique marine environment for future generations to enjoy. For more experienced divers, Menjangan is famous for its wall diving, with visibility sometimes reaching up to 50 meters (164 feet). We can help you arrange a trip to Menjangan Island. Seraya Secrets Don’t be put off by the name “muck diving.” Behind the silty, black volcanic sand seabed lies an incredible world of tiny marine life. Muck sites act as nurseries for many species in their early developmental stages. You can spot pipefish, nudibranchs, and seahorses in this unique environment with patience. Underwater photographers love the area around Amed, famous for muck diving. One site, Seraya Secrets, is renowned for its healthy and diverse fauna. A night dive here reveals notable species that only come out after dark. To fully immerse yourself in the muck diving experience in Bali, it’s highly recommended that you dive with a local Balinese divemaster. Their knowledge and expertise of the dive sites will ensure you don’t miss out on all of the tiny treasures hidden in the sand, coral, and rocks, giving you a sense of confidence and reassurance during your dive. Several dive operations offer blackwater diving in the area. This experience is not to be missed if you are an underwater photographer. Manta Point Every scuba diver dreams of encountering manta rays, the graceful giants of the sea with an average wingspan of 3-5 meters (10-16 feet); seeing these creatures up close is a breathtaking experience. The best chance to observe them is at cleaning stations, where tiny fish clean their skin. One of the best places is the cleaning station Manta Point, at the southern tip of Nusa Penida island. Here, 5-6 manta rays can be seen performing an elegant and powerful underwater ballet. However, due to strong currents, this dive site is relatively shallow at 10-12 meters (33-39 feet), so it’s recommended only for experienced divers comfortable with currents. It’s also important to note that diving with manta rays is subject to local regulations, so maintaining a safe distance and not touching the manta are essential ways to protect these magnificent creatures. If you’re lucky enough to dive with these magnificent creatures, approach them gently and avoid touching them or getting too close with bubbles, as they can scare the mantas away. Relax, breathe slowly, and enjoy this incredible encounter. USAT Liberty Wreck The USAT Liberty wreck is one of the world’s most famous and accessible wreck dive sites. Located just 30 minutes north of Amed, in the small village of Tulamben, the wreck lies a mere 25 meters (82 feet) from the beach. The dive site is easily accessible, with a wide, sandy beach for gearing up and a gentle slope leading into the water. There are also several dive resorts and dive shops in the area, offering equipment rental, guided dives, and other services. This shore dive offers depths suitable for all scuba divers, with the shallowest point at just 5 meters (16 feet) and the deepest at 30 meters (98 feet). In 1942, during World War II, a Japanese submarine torpedoed the American ship between Bali and Lombok. After being towed to Tulamben’s beach for salvage operations, the wreck’s fate took an unexpected turn. In 1963, Mount Agung, an active volcano, erupted, devastating Bali’s east coast. The lava flow pushed the wreck just offshore, submerging it underwater. From then on, the USAT Liberty wreck became one of the most dramatic coral reefs, now enjoyed by scuba divers worldwide. It’s home to schools of bumphead parrotfish and jackfish, often seen swirling above the wreck at sunrise around 6 AM. It is highly recommended that you spend the night at one of Tulamben’s local resorts to witness this incredible show. This will ensure that you’re among the first divers in the water at sunrise. Crystal Bay Crystal Bay is one of the best places to dive in Bali to spot the massive mola-mola or Indonesian giant sunfish, and is considered the holy grail for many scuba divers visiting Bali. These enormous creatures can grow larger than 3 meters (10 feet) and weigh over 1,000 kg (2,200 lbs). Their round, flat body with two long vertical caudal fins makes them easily recognizable. However, even during the peak season from July to September, sighting one requires excellent luck. The best location to potentially encounter a mola-mola is the sunfish cleaning station in Crystal Bay, which is close to Penida village. It is situated in the Ceningan Channel northeast of Nusa Penida. This dive site is recommended only for experienced deep divers, as the observation spot lies between 18 and 30 meters (59 and 98 feet) deep. Divers should also be prepared for colder water temperatures at Crystal Bay, making a 5mm full wetsuit a wise choice. While there are no guarantees, keeping your fingers crossed at this cleaning station gives you the best chance of witnessing the incredible mola-mola in its natural habitat. Temple Garden The Biorock site is not an archaeological dive destination but an environmental conservation project. Created by local dive centres in Pemuteran, this unique site features a 4-meter (13-foot) high traditional Balinese temple gateway, along with statues of Buddha, Krishna, and Ganesh. Over time, the structures have become covered in vibrant Gorgonian fans, making the project a success from an ecosystem perspective. Yet, it still provides divers the feeling of exploring an ancient underwater monument. The main area of interest lies at a depth of 30 meters (98 feet). However, the site has recently been extended with a shallower section at 15 meters (49 feet) to accommodate beginner divers. While not an archaeological site, Biorock offers a unique diving experience combining cultural elements with environmental conservation efforts. Bat Cave The dive site near Crystal Bay in Nusa Penida offers an extraordinary experience that combines the thrill of underwater cavern diving with exploring a cave accessible only by sea. To reach the tunnel’s entrance leading to the cave, divers must descend to a depth of 30 meters (98 feet), where they may encounter whitetip and blacktip sharks along the way, adding to the excitement. As divers progress through the tunnel, the surroundings gradually become darker until they finally see light emanating from the cave. A high-pitched noise can be heard while underwater, foreshadowing the incredible sight that awaits inside the cave. Upon surfacing in the cave, divers are greeted by the remarkable sight of hundreds of bats flying overhead. This unique dive site near Crystal Bay provides an unforgettable adventure, blending the underwater world with exploring a hidden cave teeming with wildlife. To Wrap it Up To fully enjoy the best scuba diving experiences in Bali, we recommend you to have an Advanced Open Water certification, which allows for deeper dives. Prior experience with drift diving and handling currents is also beneficial, as diving conditions in Indonesia can sometimes be challenging. The peak season for diving in Bali is from July to September, which offers the best chance of spotting the elusive mola-mola (ocean sunfish). However, this is also the high tourist season on the island. For those seeking a less crowded experience, January, which falls during the monsoon season, can be a viable option. While there may be occasional rain showers, the weather remains warm and comfortable. Regardless of when you visit, Bali promises diverse diving opportunities, from vibrant coral reefs and encounters with significant marine life to unique experiences like muck diving and exploring underwater caves and wrecks. With proper certification and experience, divers can fully immerse themselves in the island’s rich underwater world. We have you covered for inclusive, plant-based or vegan Bali scuba diving trips. If you have any thoughts or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us! 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
