Dive Sites
There are around 20 popular dive sites around the three islands of Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida.
Manta Ponit
Distance : 35-45 minutes from Dive Centre
Manta Point is one of the most famous dive sites in Bali. Because this is where you can, almost every day of the year, dive with a MANTA RAY. The dive site gets its name because of the colony of Manta rays that established residence in its deep water. We have usually the chance to admire them when they come up into shallow water to get rid of the parasites with the help of small reef fishes. The dive starts with a sandbar that brings us to a first cleaning station.
Manta point is famous for the Mantas, but it is also an incredible dive site where everything can show up. We also often see there Bamboo sharks and blue spotted stingrays. It is also a highlight to see smaller organisms, like rare species of nudibranchs, Zanzibar shrimps, Porcelain crabs. We recently met an awesome crown jelly fish.
Crystal Bay
Distance: 15-20 minutes from Dive Centre
Crystal Bay also one of the famous dive sites in Bali and even in Indonesia. Diving in Bali without diving Crystal Bay would be like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. It is indeed one of the few places in the world where you can meet the Mola Mola very regularly, between July and October. And some years even earlier.
The Mola Mola, or oceanic sunfish, has the particularity to grow until the end of its life. It can reach 3 to 4 meters in diameter and weigh more than one ton. It will come up from very deep following the upwellings that bring with them nutrients. The upwellingis a phenomenon that involves wind-driven motion of dense, cooler, and usually nutrient-rich water towards the ocean surface, replacing the warmer, usually nutrient-depleted surface water.
When diving Crystal Bay, your best chance to meet the Mola Mola is after what is called the second corner, behind the small island in the middle of Crystal Bay. But you must be very attentive to tearing or down currents that can be violent. It is therefore essential to follow our experienced guide knowing perfectly well the dive site and to respect his instructions.
Blue Corner
Distance: 5-8 minutes from Dive Centre
Blue Corner is located at the end of Nusa Lembongan, and is a very famous drift dive special for experience divers.
Having done a back-roll off the boat, you descend to a slope which starts at 10m, has pretty soft corals, and where you may see pufferfish and boxfish, sea snakes, lionfish, nudis, scorpionfish, barracuda, triggerfish and angelfish.
The current takes you round to the point, “The Corner”, where there is a deep vertical wall, with a convenient overhang at around 25m that provides useful shelter.
Blue Corner is usually full of fish such as sweetlips, as well as sharks, big Napoleon wrasse, big tuna, Marble and Eagle rays, Giant trevally and other marinelife including, in season, special for Mola-Mola (Ocean sunfish).
It is not always possible to reach the corner due to the currents which can be changeable. Temperatures vary from 20-28°C as thermoclines are not uncommon here. Visibility is 15-30m.
Toyapakah
Distance: 12-15 minutes from Dive Centre
Toyapakeh (meaning “salt water” in Balinese) is one our favourite dive sites in northeast of Penida.
This is due to the site being partially protected from the current flowing through Ceningan Channel as well as the good visibility and rich coral.
In addition to the reef, there are some very attractive coral formations with big gorgonians that provide excellent places to find fish and other marinelife.
Starting at 6m, this lovely reef of beautiful soft corals and thriving hard corals gives us clouds of anthias as well as scorpionfish, moray eels, trumpetfish, puffers, and Giant trevally.
At around 10m, as you drift with the current, you will see bommies with a lot of sweetlips and then schools of fish including jackfish and batfish, with occasional Napoleon wrasse and turtles.
Deeper on the slope you may have the chance to see larger pelagics including Mola-Mola.
The current here often heads north east which makes for an easy and pleasant drift dive. That said, as the currents in shallow water and in deeper water sometimes go in different directions, the direction of your dive can change as you alter your depth.
At slack tide, when there is no current at all, you can stop to see the smaller creatures such as Blue ribbon eels, Orangutan crabs and some nudibranchs.
Ped, SD Point, Sental, Buyuk and Sampalan
Distance: 15-25 minutes from Dive Centre
Looking for a very nice drift dive in Nusa Penida? Read here everything you want to know about PED, SD Point, Sental, Buyuk and Tugu drop offs. Very nice dives for divers of all levels.
The north coast of Nusa Penida offers among the most beautiful drift dives of Bali. Five dive sites stand out around the same area. SD, Ped, Sental, Buyuk and Sampalan.
It is in fact a very wide drop-off, about eight kilometers long, along which the current will carry you throughout the site. When there is little current you will stay around your starting point on the same dive site. But if the current is stronger, your drift dive may take you through several of these dive sites ! The current is generally stable and the diving is very pleasant. However, you must remain vigilant to rip currents and downdrafts. When diving with the right instructor, safety will remain the first objective
