Ultimate Guide to Scuba Diving in Bali
Imagine a world of vibrant coral reefs, majestic manta rays, and mysterious shipwrecks waiting to be explored. Welcome to scuba diving in Bali, a diver’s paradise!
Get ready to embark on an underwater journey, unveiling the beauty and diversity of Bali’s dive sites. Are you prepared to dive into an unforgettable adventure? Then Let’s go!!
Getting There
First thing’s first—think about when you want to go. Bali’s dry season, from April to October, is the best time weather-wise to go, especially if you’re planning to explore or hit the beach. Next, check if you’ll need a visa. Many travelers can get a Visa on Arrival (“VOA”), but some nationalities need to apply ahead of time—so it’s worth a quick check on the official Indonesian immigration site.
Also, figure out your budget early on. Bali can be done affordably or luxuriously, depending on how you like to travel. Think about flights, accommodations, food, and all the experiences you want to have—from yoga retreats to volcano hikes…and don’t forget the diving.
Flights
Your destination is Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar (DPS). It’s the only major airport on the island. If you’re not flying direct, most international travelers route through cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Jakarta.
Use flight comparison sites like Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Hopper to find a good deal. If you’re flexible with your travel dates, that can help you save a bit too.
Entry Requirements
Before you go, double-check that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date. As with traveling to many countries, this is a strict requirement, and they won’t let you in otherwise.
You might also be asked to show a return or onward ticket, so have that ready. Depending on current travel regulations, you might need travel insurance or proof of vaccinations, so it’s smart to check the latest updates a few weeks before your trip.
Other Considerations
Once you land in Bali, it’s a good idea to have a bit of Indonesian Rupiah on hand. You can exchange some money at home or just hit up one of the ATMs at the airport (they’re usually reliable).
In Bali, public Wi-Fi can be inconsistent or unreliable, especially in remote areas. Getting connected is easy—you can grab a SIM card right at the airport, or wait until you’re in town. For getting to your hotel, you’ve got options: pre-arranged transfers, airport taxis, or ride-hailing apps like Grab (which works similarly to Uber). Some hotels even offer free pickups, if you ask in advance.
Whether diving in Bali, or any other location you are flying to, always be cognizant of your gear. Placing delicate items – like dive computers, regulators, and camera equipment – in your carry-on luggage may be the best way to protect them during transport.
Accommodations
You’ll have plenty of accommodations to choose from in Bali. Below are some good ones with built in dive centers.
If you’re looking to get away from the crowds, Mimpi Resort Menjangan in the Northwest corner of Bali is a fantastic choice. It’s tucked away not far from Menjangan Island and close to the West Bali National Park, giving it a peaceful, nature-filled vibe. The diving here is top-notch—clear waters, vibrant wall dives, and an abundance of marine life, but more on that later. The resort itself is super relaxed, offering things like natural hot springs to help you unwind after a dive.
For something a bit more accessible, Tauch Terminal Resort Tulamben is a great option. Located right by the iconic USAT Liberty shipwreck, it offers easy access to one of Bali’s most famous dive sites. The resort is set up with divers in mind, with gear storage, beachfront rooms and a super laid-back atmosphere. It’s perfect for both beginners and more seasoned divers, with the wreck right at your doorstep and accessible from the beach!
If you’re after something more boutique and luxurious, Villa Markisa in Tulamben might be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s a smaller, upscale resort with a focus on macro diving, so it’s ideal if you love underwater photography, especially capturing the tiny, colorful creatures. The resort is intimate and peaceful, offering a real escape, and the food gets great reviews too.
Then there’s Scuba Seraya Resort, just south of Tulamben. This one’s a bit more relaxed and intimate, with a strong focus on muck diving. It’s also close to the Liberty wreck, so you can dive there easily. The resort offers cozy bungalows and has that perfect “dive, sleep, repeat” vibe. It’s perfect if you like a quieter, more laid-back atmosphere after a day in the water.
Scuba Diving in Bali
Bali, a world-renowned diving destination, offers an array of underwater experiences throughout its regions. From the muck diving adventures in East Bali to the thrilling encounters with large marine animals in South Bali, and the serene coral gardens of North Bali, the island caters to all diving preferences.
Below, we will journey through Bali’s diving regions and highlight their top dive sites.
East Bali: Amed and Tulamben
East Bali boasts a treasure trove of dive sites, particularly in Amed and Tulamben, where divers can explore shipwrecks, vivid reefs, and muck diving spots teeming with unique marine life.
Amed
Amed, a quaint fishing village, offers a variety of underwater landscapes, including walls, and stunning coral reefs filled with vibrant reef fish. The journey from the beach to the dive sites is an experience in itself, as you travel aboard a traditional jukung boat piloted by local fisherman.
The various dive sites in Amed include Jemeluk Bay, Pyramids, Bunutan and Ghost Bay. Keep an eye out for sea turtles that are prevalent in the Amed waters!
Wreck divers will want to hit the Japanese Wreck. This somewhat mysterious wreck is about 65ft long and lies in depths between 16ft to 32ft. This can be done as a shore dive and is perfect for all level of divers and snorkelers too. She has been down for awhile and is covered in coral and sponges, attracting much aquatic life.
Tulamben
Tulamben, on the other hand, is renowned for its shore diving and easy access to perhaps its most famous dive site, the legendary Liberty Wreck. The wreck lies just 100ft from shore. The ship was originally 328ft long, but is now broken up and lies in depths ranging from 16ft to 98ft.
The main reason to dive the Liberty Wreck is all the marine life she now gathers from her more than 60 years underwater. Almost 650 fish species have been recorded in Tulamben and a good number of those can be seen on this wreck including bigeye jacks, Napoleon wrasse, parrotfish, grouper, rabbitfish, damselfish and the funky looking unicornfish.
Tulamben is also home to one of the island’s best muck diving sites for macro marine life lovers. seraya secrets is actually made up of three sites, Top Secrets, Deep Secrets and Noisy Secrets, which gets its name from the noise made by the juvenile triggerfish that live at the site. With depths ranging from 16ft to 114ft, all level of divers can enjoy this site, as well as snorkelers too.
seraya secrets is home to fascinating macro critters, including nudibranchs, harlequin shrimp and Pygmy seahorses, and is a dive site not to be missed when visiting Bali.
Another unmissable spot in Tulamben is the Drop-Off or Tulamben Wall. This is a deep wall dive that draws experienced divers seeking a challenge. However, the site has a gentle slope that first begins at about 9ft before it’s extreme drop-off of over 250ft, so beginner divers who mind there depth can dive here.
On the wall, divers will find among the coral and sponge formations lionfish, scorpionfish, moray eels, angelfish and the elusive electric clam.
South Bali: Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan
South Bali’s islands of Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan are the epitome of thrilling underwater experiences. The islands’ dive sites cater to adrenaline-seekers, providing opportunities to swim alongside manta rays and mola molas, while also showcasing vibrant coral reefs and currents that can challenge even the most experienced divers.
Nusa Penida
Nusa Pendia offers over a dozen dive sites to visit, including Crystal Bay, Manta Point, Toyopakeh, Malibu, and Ceningan Wall. There are over 500 species of marine life to be found off of the island including whitetip reef sharks, octopus, eagle rays, barracuda and pufferfish.
Perhaps the most favorite dive site of Nusa Pendia is Manta Point, located on the South side of the Island. This is a cleaning station where large reef mantas can be found. The maximum depth here is 65ft, but most of the diving is above 50ft. Other than the Rays, bamboo reef sharks, sea turtles and mola mola can be found here.
Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan, is located between Bali’s main island’s Southeast coast and the Northwest coast of Nusa Penida. In its waters can be found scorpionfish, frogfish, spiny lobsters, ribbon eels, nudibranch and shrimp.
Nusa Lembongan is home to several favorite dive sites on its North/Northwest side. These locations include Mangrove, Lembongan Bay and Blue Corner.
Blue Corner – aka Jurassic Point – is an exciting drift dive that demands respect and is for advanced divers with drifting experience. Negative entries are typical here and a good majority of the dive is spent around 100ft. Of note, divers may see whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, large marbled stingrays and, in season, mola mola.
Mangrove is a favorite drift dive that all level of divers can enjoy that is located by, yep you guessed it, a beautiful mangrove forest.
Mangrove has a gentle sloping reef. while max depth is over recreational limits, divers will be staying between about 22ft and 50ft. As you are flying over the reef be on the look out for nurse sharks, sea turtles, moray eels and even the occasional whale shark.
North Bali: Menjangan Island and Pemuteran Bay
For divers seeking tranquility, Northwest Bali’s Menjangan Island and Pemuteran Bay provide the perfect underwater escape. Here, calm waters, stunning coral gardens, and artificial reef projects create an idyllic setting for divers of all skill levels.
Menjangan Island
Menjangan Island, situated within West Bali National Park, offers beautiful coral gardens and a serene diving experience.
There are great dive sites surrounding Menjangan, including Pos II, Coral Garden, Bat Cave, Eel Garden and the Anker Wreck, that scratch the itch of every type of diver. Pos II is a favorite spot of the island and high on the list among those who like wall dives with drop-offs.
With depths between 16ft to over 130ft, all level of divers can enjoy this site, just mind that buoyancy. On the wall you will see large barrel and tube sponges and plenty of sea fans. Among the coral you will find parrotfish, small crabs, angelfish and butterflyfish. Whitetip reef shark have been seen here as well.
It’s not every day you get to see bats on a dive, but you may at Bat Cave. This dive site is located on the East side of Menjangan just below some caves that are inhabited by small bats.
This site has steep drop-off and is more suited for advanced divers, with a good part of this dive being close to 100ft. Divers can expect to see sea turtles, mora eels and occasionally whale sharks.
For you experienced wreck lovers, the Anker Wreck has you covered. This is for advanced to technical divers, with most of the wreck lying in depths between 114ft about and 200ft.
Located on the Northwest side of Menjangan, the wreck gets its name from the anchor, which can be found in about 20ft of water. Follow the chain down to about 100ft to find a second anchor. Down below, divers can still see some copper sheeting from the wreck and bottles that were part of the ship’s cargo.
While not off of Menjangan, Secret Bay gets an honorable mention here because it is a great dive site. Located on the West Side of Bali it is one of the island’s best sites for muck diving and macro photography.
With a maximum depth of about 20ft, all level of divers can get in on the secret of Secret Bay. Here divers can see all sorts of marine life from seahorses to sea snakes…”snakes! why did it have to be snakes?”
Pemuteran Bay
Pemuteran Bay is known for its muck diving and experimental artificial reef resembling a Balinese temple. The over 10 dive sites here, including Napoleon Reef, Temple Of The Gods, Bio Rock and Temple Wall, are unique and worth a visit.
Napoleon Reef is full of vibrant colorful aquatic life in depths between about 20ft and 100ft. schools of reef fish, and barracuda, swim all around this area. Among the crevices hide moray eels and, looking closer, you can spy some nudibranchs.
Over at Temple Of The Gods, divers will find a multitude of Balinese statues sunk on purpose to form an artificial reef. These “Gods” now attract much macro marine life at a maximum depth of about 85ft.
On Bio Rock you find an interesting experiment, Biorock structures that use a low-voltage electrical current to help coral growth and reef restoration. Seahorse, sea turtles and batfish can be found here with depths between 6ft and 65ft.
Temple Wall (aka Temple Garden) is a dive site located off of where two temples stand on shore. But the temples are not just above the waves. Down below, at about 100ft, divers will find temple doors and statues of Shiva and Ganesh among the sandy bottom. A beautiful photo and video opportunity.
Marine Life and Underwater Photography Opportunities
Bali’s marine life offers a myriad of underwater photography subjects for both macro critters and large marine animals. With the island’s diverse dive sites and rich marine biodiversity, underwater photographers will find no shortage of inspiration.
Macro Critters and Muck Diving
The world of macro critters and muck diving in Bali presents a unique opportunity to spot rare species like nudibranchs, seahorses, and pipefish.
During the dry season from April to October, the chances of capturing these fascinating critters on camera are even higher.
Large Marine Animals
For those seeking encounters with larger marine animals, Bali’s dive sites do not disappoint. Manta rays, mola molas, and reef sharks can be found in various locations around the island. Manta Point and Manta Bay off Nusa Penida Island are known for their manta ray sightings.
Meanwhile, mola molas can be spotted at dive sites like Crystal Bay near Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. Reef sharks, including blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, can also be encountered in Bali’s waters.
Scuba Diving Conditions and Best Time to Dive in Bali
Diving conditions in Bali vary throughout the year, with the best time to dive being from May to October. During this period, divers can expect good visibility and comfortable water temperatures. Although dive sites can be found at various depths visibility generally ranges from 32ft to over 100ft.
The water temperature is usually between 78 and 84. A 3mm wetsuit should be fine, but a 5mm may be better for longer and deeper dives due to potential thermocline. Some nice wetsuit options that won’t break the bank include XCEL, SCUBAPRO Men’s Sport Steamer, Neosport, Lemorecen and Hevto. Don’t forget your fins, the Scubapro Go Sport fins travel nicely and are a Jay’s Faves, as well your diving knife, surface marker buoy and a signaling device.
Scuba Diving Courses and Certification in Bali
Bali is an ideal destination for scuba diving courses and certification, catering to beginners and advanced divers alike. Locations such as Sanur or Amed are great spots for beginner divers to learn scuba diving in a safe and beautiful environment. Check with the local shops if interested in getting certified or just in checking scuba out in a Discover Scuba Diving class.
For those looking to advance their skills, Bali provides various courses and certifications, enabling scuba divers to continuously develop and investigate the underwater environment.
Scuba Diving Safety and Insurance
As with any scuba trip, diving accident insurance is an important consideration for divers. Ensuring health and gear coverage in case of emergencies provides peace of mind while exploring the underwater world, especially in more remote locations. Scuba diving insurance typically covers health and gear coverage in emergencies, making it a worthwhile investment for divers.
Yours truly learned the importance of accident insurance recently on a trip to Cozumel. While it was a non-diving related injury, DAN still saved me thousands of dollars. You can read all about that trip, my injury and care and treatment here.
Other Activities
While Bali’s underwater world is mesmerizing, the island also offers a wealth of non-diving activities and topside attractions to explore. From cultural experiences like visiting ancient temples to natural landmarks such as Karang Boma Cliff and Sekumpul Waterfall, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Bali.
Adventure lovers can also indulge in a variety of sports, including surfing, white-water river rafting, and trekking an active volcano. Whether you’re seeking a cultural immersion or an adrenaline rush, Bali’s diverse offerings ensure a memorable experience both above and below the water.
Wrapping Things Up
Bali’s diverse underwater landscape offers a scuba diving experience like no other. From shipwrecks and the thrilling encounters with manta rays, to the serene coral gardens and drop-offs, there is something for every diver to discover.
With the right preparation, safety measures, and an adventurous spirit, your Bali dive trip is sure to be an unforgettable journey through a captivating underwater world.
“How boring would the world be if everywhere and everyone were the same. Safe travels and good adventures.” Scuba Jay
