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 Bali has
some impressive dive sites. With pleasant temperatures of
average 27 Celsius year round and good visibility, the best
time of the year for diving is the dry season from April to
October. The wet season from November to March can be
quite torrential.
 A lot of
the diving and snorkeling areas are very close to the shore
with lots of colorful hard and soft corals and an amazing
range of tropical fish. For the moment the reefs are mostly
unspoiled and a wide variety of marine life such as dolphins,
rays, turtles, sperm, blue whales. Sea snakes and moray eels
can be found here.
 The main
diving and snorkeling areas in Bali on the east coast are at
Padang Bai and Candidasa and further north at Tulamben and
Amed. Following the coastal road in the north of the island is
Lovina. Slightly further along is Pemuteran and in the western
tip of Bali is Labuan Lalang, an uninhabited island with some
of the best diving on Bali. Nearly 7000 hectares of corals
reef and coastal waters are protected as part of the Bali
Barat National Park including Menjangan island.
Below are some of the most exciting
diving spots on the island.
Sanur and Nusa
Dua
These areas often
used as location for teaching diving because of it's close
proximity to the tourist main areas, there are some
interesting coral formations, sponges and plentiful colorful
fish on the reef at Sanur.
Candidasa
Batu Tiga (Three Rocks) is accessed by boat
from Candidasa or Padang Bai. With an average depth of 20
meter, the site is excellent for diving or snorkeling. The
reef is steep and sloping with many corals. Some fish seen
here include Red Snapper. Clown Trigger fish, and Blue spotted
Stingrays, Trivially, Morays and White tip Reef sharks. Pulau
Tepekong - On the east and north side of the island this is
wall dive with many caves. There are large biomes and many
fish such as different Trigger fish, Angel fish, Snappers,
Butterfly fish, Parrotfish, Moorish Idols and Emperor.
Amed
Amed has excellent snorkeling just off the
black sand beach and further out in the bay there is coral
wall with an abundance of sponges and hard and soft corals.
Fish varieties include Black Snappers, Butterfly fish, Parrot
fish, Surgeon fish, Unicorn fish, Parrot fish, Damsel fish,
Cardinal fish, White tip Reef Sharks and many larger varieties
such as Dogtooth Tuna and Blue Finned Trivially.
Tulamben
One of Bali's most popular diving sites is
the wreck of the US liberty warship. The Japanese during World
War II torpedoed it in the Lombok Strait. She was beached on
Tulamben when rescue attempt failed. After the eruption of Mt.
Agung in 1963 she broke in half and was left in her present
position close to the shore of Tulamben. The hull is encrusted
with coral and the fish have become quite tame because of the
large number of divers here.
Lovina
A popular beach resort area. Lovina refers
to a collection of small villages on the coast. In the past
coral in the bay was used to make lime. Fortunately the coral
is now protected and some diving and snorkeling is possible
with very clear water. Lovina also a good place to stay if you
want to go to Menjangan.
Pemuteran
This area has suffered a bit from dynamic
fishing but great efforts have been made to stop further
destruction. There is much coral available such as Elkhom and
Staghorn. There are many tropical reef fish and profusion of
Moorish Idol. There is also a turtle sanctuary located at
Pemuteran with regular release of turtles into the sea, which
have been bred at Sanctuary.
Menjangan
Island
There are few
dives sites to choose from at Menjangan with good conditions
and excellent visibility. The snorkeling is excellent too.
Menjangan also have a wreck, known as the "Anker" because of
it has heavily encrusted anchor at the top of the reef. Fixed
mooring have been built to prevent damage and the island is
reached by a 30 - minute boat ride from Labuan Lalang.
Nusa Penida
About one and half-hours from Bali by motor
boat, Nusa Penida offers some truly spectacular and unspoiled
diving and snorkeling. As there is not much development here,
the reefs are pristine. An abundance of hard and soft corals
makes a home for large amounts of tropical fish such as
angelfish and clownish. Moray eels live in the crevices and
White tip Reef Shark's search for food at night and sleep by
day under table corals.
Nusa
Lembongan
The smaller
island of Nusa Lembongan is popular destination for
day-trippers. At the northern end of the island, Mangrove
Point, Crystal Bay and Blue Comer Trip are all good diving
sites. Some of the areas are for experienced divers only and
look for Manta Point to the east where schools of Mantas come
to the cleaning stations and to mate.
For more information, please refer to some of the best
diving companies on the island. Here's the list...
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