BALI’S DIVE SITE Map

BALI’S DIVE SITE:

Bali offers an exceptional diving experience for all levels of divers, and variety of dive sites. In Bali we conduct dive ventures combining ship wrecks, vertical drop-offs, over sand slopes, black volcanic out crops, limestone shores, amongst huge bommies, in roaring currents, in quite bays, along deep outstanding corals, covered ridges, over sea grass beds, Bali can offer it all.

Above the water the physical and cultural beauty of the island is legendary, which means that unlike so many other great diving areas, there is always something to do or see for you and your family during your surface intervals. The combination of beautiful, varied diving and plenty to do on shore makes Bali one of the world's best destinations for your holiday.

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Dive Site: Nusa Dua

The dives just beyond the reef line east of the northern part of Tanjung Benoa peninsula, or in front of Sanur, are are not the best in Bali. But the sites are easy to get to, and there is quite a good variety of reef fish to see. These dives serve perfectly as a quick refresher if you haven't dived in a while, or as your first dive if you just completed a dive course. (See map page 98.) An outboard-powered outrigger canoe takes you the few hundred meters from the beach to the dive location, just beyond where the waves break. The only way out is over very shallow reef flat, so the tide must be in to make the trip. Be prepared for a bit of spray during the ride out or back and when crossing the (usually low) breaking waves. On the reef face off Tanjung Benoa, we dropped down to 8-9 meters on a slightly sloping bottom with scattered coral formations. Visibility (late september) was just 6-8 meters, but we were told that it is usually twice this.The majority of the fish were at 8-10 meters. We made a couple of quick dips to 14 meters, and saw nothing.

Good Variety of Fish

The coral cover here is not fantastic, but the few mini-pinnacles drew plentiful fish life with a good variety of species. We saw several 50-75 centimeter fish glide by, but visibility was too restricted to make an identification. Our guide found a giant moray and pointed him out to us.This big fellow lives in a coral cave with several openings, and for a while he played hide and seek, popping his head out of three different holes.We saw a fairly large group of yellowtail fusiliers, a nicely compacted hovering mass of blue lined snappers, a few red bigeyes and several small aggregations of bigeye soldierfish.
Fairy basslets hovered over almost every coral outcrop Damsels were present in a variety of species. The butterfly fish were well-represented, but the only schooling species we saw was a small group of masked bannerfish (Heniochus monoceros). Groupers were common especially the white-lined grouper (Anyperodon leucogrammicus) which we saw in both color morphs: white, and brown-green.
Parrotfish were present in good variety, but the only species we noticed more than once was the blue-barred parrot (Scarus ghobban). The only angelfish we saw were the dwarf bicolor angel (Centropyge bicolor) and several big emperor angels. Surgeonfish were common, particularly the spotted unicorn fish (Naso brevirostris). We saw pairs of rabbitfish of at least three species, and a single pair of Titan triggerfish.

A Feeding Frenzy

The highlight of the dive came when we saw a furious cloud of several dozen fish of various species whirling around what looked like a bare patch of dark

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Nusa Penida

NUSA PENIDA

Located 18 Nm east of Sanur. With "Explorer II" our alloy boat specially designed for diving, will get you to the island in approximately 30 minutes.

Nusa Penida offers some of best diving to be found anywhere. Most of the dive sites around Nusa Penida and its two small sister islands - Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan will be a drift dive and the current can reach more than 4 knots. Upwelling from the deep water south of Bali, keep the visibility in these areas clear, but can also form thermo clines with temperatures dropping down to 22°.

Pelagic are the main attraction here and you have a good chance to see jacks, mackerel, tuna, turtle, and mantas. Sharks are common and big mantas are frequently sighted. Perhaps the most unusual pelagic visitor to Nusa Penida ( August - September ) is the unique mola-mola or oceanic sunfish, a mysterious large flattened fish with elongated dorsal and vertical fins and a lumpy growth instead of a tail fin.

SD, PED, SENTAL, BUYUK

These dive sites are located on the coast of northern Nusa Penida and offer great drift diving. The reef is healthy and has a similar structure all along this stretch, a steep slope of low hard coral, with patches of bommies that runs to depth of 50 meters or more.

Current is always present in this area which means our dive will always be a drift dive from a pleasant, relaxing knot, which can be up to 4 knots.

The visibility is very clear with 20 - 30m.These are also good areas to see large pelagic, shark, mantas, tuna, barracuda, and molas.

On these sites, because the coral commences as shallow as 3 meters it is possible to enjoy snorkeling here.

TOYA PAKEH

Located on the islands northwest point, the channel between Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan is probably the single most popular dive site on Nusa Penida and is regarded by many as the best. It's recognition comes not only because it is partially protected from the current flowing through the strait between Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan, but also the water is clear and the coral is rich.

The topography here is very nice; there are some very attractive coral formations, with big gorgonian and soft coral bushes.

The fish life is excellent with both small and large species that present in large numbers, emperor and regal angelfish are common and triggerfish of many types including big titan and brightly paltered clown fish cruise the reef.

Snapper of several variety especially midnight, school here in phenomenal numbers and there are many a great number of sweet lips. The larger reef residents including giant groper, large parrot fish, moray eel, white tip shark, giant trevally, lots of big eyed jack, big barracuda and in deeper areas a chance encounter with the fabled ocean sunfish (mola-mola).

The current often heads northeast but sometimes can be difficult to read. The easiest way is to drop into the middle of the dive site, starting at 6 meters with a lovely reef and beautiful soft coral, following the slope down wards to 10-15 meters, then you can turn either north or south conditions permitting. The water can be very cold in here.

GAMET BAY

This bay located on the north west of Nusa Penida, off toya pakeh strait, between toyapakeh and crystal bay.

Gamet bay is the only good site on Nusa Penida that does not require a drift dive. "It is a jewel of a site and a favorite site of Prodive Bali founder", Troy Lowrie.

We descend to the dept of 6-8mt. The shallow depths here are exceptionally rich, with colourful soft coral, hard corals, gorgonian, bommies, and many reef fish, and you may want to stay your whole dive as the colour of Gamat's shallow reef simply glows.

Follow the slope down to 10 -20mt of water, where a series of big bommies provide some protection from the current pulse. These areas are very rich and overall probably the nicest part of Gamat reef.

Sharks are common especially at a depth of 20-25, where there is a cave, which almost always has white tip reef shark hiding in it. Step up to a depth 18mts, there are 2 caves and you will often find green turtle ( also sometimes seen in the Gamat bay itself )

CRYSTAL BAY

Located on the south side of Gamat bay, south west of Nusa Penida there is another bay with rocky island in the middle of it, called Crystal Bay.

Upon entering the bay, you descend directly down to the reef which is 5 - 10 mtr, and this coral reef has a white sandy base, covered with anemones and soft corals. Follow the north side of the bay and in the corner, at a depth of 12 mtr, there is a cave, entering from underwater once inside the cove, which opens to the sky, you will see bats asleep overhead. Most of the time you will see reef shark inside the cave.

From the bat cave continue following the wall ( the reef is not particularly rich ), hard corals provide home for lots of lobster.

The bay is vulnerable to swell, creating up and down currents. When the current is present, there is the opportunity to see white tip shark, leopard shark, mantas, and eagle ray.

MANTA POINT

This is a lime stone rock off the southwest coast of Nusa Penida. The above water scenery is dramatic, with lime stone cliffs that descend straight into the ocean. The swell can be very strong, therefore Pro Dive Bali recommends this dive should be done early in the morning, before the wind starts to pick up.

The profile is a slope down and there is no coral at all, just bare limestone rock. There is no real current in here just swell. The only reason to dive here is to see the mantas. You may also see other pelagic such as tuna, and tiger mackerel.

Please be aware that if mantas aren't there, there is nothing else to see, except water, sand, limestone rock and your buddy. This is the place where they usually come to feed, so there is no guarantee you see them. But if you are lucky you will be surrounded by these pelagic which are 2-4m wide and totally harmless as they eat plankton.

BLUE CORNER

This location on the northwest of Nusa Lembongan is a very popular drift dive location. The current can be strong here and can try to pull you downwards.

The dive starts east off the point ( where the light house is ) you then descend to the slope starting at 10 mtr where you are swept in a drift west to the corner, where there is a vertical wall, depth around 30 mtr plus.

The main reason to dive this site is because molas can be seen here ( seasonal - April to September )

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Padang Bay

PADANG BAI

Amuk Bay located along the south side of Bali's eastern point, it's about 6 km across with Padang Bai in the south and Candidasa in the north.

Blue Lagoon just north Padang Bay, Tapekong and Biaha offers some of the best diving in Bali and in fact, some of the best diving you will find anywhere.

Sharks are seen on almost every dive, molas are regularly spotted, the fish life is exceptionally rich, the coral is healthy and the water is crystal clear.

Regardless of condition, these dive sites with the exception of blue Lagoon, are amongst the most difficult and dangerous to dive in Bali. The swell and strong currents coming from Lombok strait create unpredictable water movements, and compound the problem around them. This is a place to be both careful and patient.

No need to be scared of these dive sites but they should be treated with caution and respect!

BLUE LAGOON

Blue Lagoon is just north of Padang Bai and is actually a small bay with steep white sand.

It's true that the structure of Blue Lagoon reef is relatively unexciting, with white sandy bottom, and sloping gradually to 22 m, has short section of wall, however the fish life is amazing. This is the site for sharks - including unusual cat shark, wobbegong shark and white tip shark. Also you will see interesting smaller animals such as nudibranch, shrimp, crabs, squid and octopus.

Water conditions at Blue Lagoon are not generally a problem. There is sometimes a little surge and mild current, but the bay is fairly protected, which makes the diving so easy and relaxing.

MIMPANG

Also known as Batu tiga is a group of, actually four big rocks and another half dozen smaller ones. The rocks follow an underwater ridge that runs north by northeast. Mimpang's southern extent drops off sharply to the deep water, but the north becomes shallow that continues to the main land of Bali.

The topography of Mimpang is diverse with sloping reef, wall craggy rocks, hard and soft corals and big gorgonians, but the southern end of this reef is one of the richest in all of Bali.

The fish life is exceptional, including schooling fish, unusual small reef fish, lots of sharks, as Mimpang also known as shark point, where you have the best chance of seeing sharks in Bali.

Current condition can be tricky, in some cases you will be limited to diving either the east or the west end of the south point.

THE CANYON TAPEKONG

This little island is only 1 km from Mimpang and offers one the most spectacular diving adventures in Bali. The canyon dive site is located off the very south - western tip of Tapekong with max depth 40m.

Commencing your dive on the steep slope, on the islands western face, continue down to 25 meters and enter the canyon. Explore the canyon and if there is no current ( a very rare occurrence ) you'll be able to see the gray scale of its structure, an area where you will find a huge school of sweet lip, batfish, snapper, bump head, parrot fish, unscornfish, big eyed, trevally, and all of which can nearly fill the canyon.

Sharks are relatively common in this area, which are usually white tip reef sharks.

BIAHA

This rocky out crop with shape of the interval comma, about 4 km north east of Tapekong. A very healthy reef surrounds the entire Island, approximately half of it is a wall and the other half is a cobbled slope. The wall is black, basaltic rock, with breaking wave above, and basically your entry points can be anywhere around the island and your dive can cover the entire island, or just a small part depending on the current, conditions and your level of interest.

The current here can be very strong not only horizontally but also down wards and can form a whirlpool under certain conditions.

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AMED

Amed is located on the north east coast of Bali, about 2.5 hours drive from Kuta. But if you stay overnight at Tulamben, it will take approximately 20 Minutes drive to the south of Tulamben. From a landscape point of view, Amed is much prettier than Tulamben. You will see many rice fields along the way, traditional salt-panning and also sandy beaches as apposed to Tulamben’s stony ones. This reef discovered as a dive site in 1984 is in a quiet bay and the reef was extremely healthy. A site with such a variety of hard corals, magnificent barrel sponges and gorgonian fans, and it could serve as a kind of museum of scleractinian coral diversity.

However in April – May 1998, Amed was badly affected by coral bleaching as a result of El – Nino, harder than anywhere else on the island, and effected the reef within the bay down to a depth 12 meters. The reef is slowly recovering, but we cannot yet tell when and if it would ever return to its original splendour. The deeper section fared better. The gorgonian and coral on the outer reef below 12 meters were never effected and are still healthy and worth the dive to see.

There are two dive sites outside Jumeluk bay, Amed Reef and Amed Wall and both of which can be done as a shore or boat dive. The boat is a traditional fishing boat ( Jukung ) which is a smal1l outrigger with the max capacity of 3 divers.

Jumeluk bay is suitable both for novice and experienced divers. The condition is easy, very rarely any wave action at the surface and the visibility is usually 15 to 30m

AMED REEF

Located at the left side of the bay and by Jukung ( small outrigger ) it will take approximately 10 minutes with the depth ranging from 12-22 meters. You will find much different kinds of sponges, gorgonian, and marine life including everything from gobies, shrimp, to school of barracuda and blue spotted ray. Many different kinds of reef fish such as parrotfish, angelfish, surgeonfish, and moray eel.

If we go little bit deeper to 30 meters , you will see some sleeping white tip sharks on the sandy bottom.

Should there be any current, which is usually very rare and flows to the south, this will make for a relaxing drift dive.

AMED WALL

This dive site is located on the right side of the bay which takes approximately 5 minutes by Jukung. The depth ranges from 10 – 35 meters and although the wall itself is a relative small part of the dive, here you can usually find white tip reef shark, napoleon wrasse, school of batfish, and some big trevally.

Once you pass the wall you will find a deep slope which is rich in corals and very interesting. If you turn right towards shallower water, you will see big bommies on the sand, and the bommies are richly covered with gorgonians.

LIPAH BAY

Is a quiet, black sandy bay about 3 km south east of Amed and home of a 20 meter steel freighter wreck. The wreck sits at 6 – 12 meters between a reef and the sandy bottom and is encrusted with gorgonians, sponges and black coral bushes.

The slope down away from the wreck is extremely rich and healthy ( unaffected by the coral – bleaching after el- nino 1998 ), fish life here is also huge and this is the kind of place where you will have a good chance to find unusual animals, pipefish, shrimp, seahorse, and dragon fish and can be found in the right condition here.

Although the area is relatively small , lipah bay reef is rich and healthy and would make a wonderful snorkeling site.

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TULAMBEN

Tulamben is now one of the most famous diving areas in Bali and attracts divers from all over the world, Here, is where you can hear the news about conditions in the different parts of the island or exceptional events, like the sighting of a whale shark or mola and here is where you are likely to meet internationally recognized underwater photographers and writers.

It is Tulamben bay which just like the rest of Bali, is situated in the world's richest marine biogeographic zone with more than 2500 different species of fish and 700 corals.

Situated on the north east coast, the bay receives very plankton rich water from the major ocean current that moves from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean or vice versa. The wreck, rocky wall and sand slopes provide a wide variety of physical habitats. All of these factors, combined together will explain why the Tulamben bay contains an incredible diversification of the underwater ecosystem

The Liberty Wreck

The Liberty was built by the federal shipbuilding company in Kearny New Jersey. She was 120 meters long, 17 meters in beam, drafted 7.3 meters and grossed 6.211 tons powered by a 2500 horsepower steam turbine engine.

Early in the morning of January 11, 1942 liberty was motoring across the lombok strait, bringing war material from Australia to the Philippines, and at 4.15 am the ship was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I -166. Although crippled by the blow, the liberty did not sink. Two destroyers tried to tow the ship toward Singaraja where it was hoped she could be repaired, however the ship was taking in too much water, so she was beached at Tulamben. Over the coming year anything of value was removed.

Then in 1963, Bali's highest and most holy mountain, Gunung Agung erupted creating a powerful earth Quake that rolled the ship in to deeper water and broke her at the bow and stern.

The liberty now lies almost parallel to the beach, the shallowest part of the wreck touches the sandy slope at 7-9 meters and the deepest part is at 28-30 meters which is suitable for all levels of diving qualification and experience.

Its a lovely dive site, and recognized as one of the world best and easiest wreck dives. The wreck is very popular for photographers as it is totally encrusted in anemones, gorgonians and corals. Perhaps the magic comes from Tulamben's black sand which provides an excellent colour contrast for the incredible variety of marine life.

It's quite difficult to list what you will see on this dive because you will come across just about everything in any Indo-Pacific reef guide book. From the minute angel fish, nudibranches, pipefish, goby through to the areas of garden eels, huge schools of silver fish called big eyed trevally, sweet lips, batfish, butterfly fish, then add invertebrates, the hard coral, black corals, sponges with crinoids, sea fans, make this variety unique and amazing.

Current is rarely present and at most it will be mild. Visibility is usually 20 - 30 meters.

The wreck is great for night dives, particularly if the moon is full, you may see Spanish dancer, flashlight fish, or sleeping parrotfish. You will notice the different behaviour of marine life, compare to the daytime. Where else on this planet can you make such as easy, relaxing, perhaps romantic and varied night dive

THE DROP - OFF

The basic structure of the drop off is a spur of volcanic rock leading out from the rise on which the temple sits. It is an old lava flow from mount Agung. It is located at the opposite end of the bay from the wreck.

The dive starts off on a steep sandy slope with nudibrances, flounder, shrimp ( be careful with your fins ) at 10 meters. There are big sponges with many varieties of shrimp, lionfish, and continuing to the right, the slope develops into a reef with very impressive topography, and becoming a vertical wall from 15 meters and descending to below 60 meters. Here you will find a sea fan, almost 2 meters across, at a depth of 28 meters, which is probably the crown jewel of the drop off - inhabited by pigmy Seahorses.

On a good day usually in the morning at low tide, visibility at the drop off will reach 20 meters and because of the location, there will be almost no or a mild current only. The fish life is similar to that found on the Liberty wreck. However being a much larger area than the wreck, you can see white tip reef shark, napoleon, bump head, parrot fish, moray eel and octopus. Should you dive in the afternoon, you will see a wide variety of lionfish that inhabit the area in their abundance.

THE CORAL GARDEN

Just in the front of Tulamben resort, ( where we usually have our delicious lunch ) in 5- 12 meters of water is a delightfully rich little patch reef, which is dominated by croporid, hard coral, including some large table and fire corals, interspersed with anemones as well as sponges.

Though only less than 200 meters long, this reef also supports a diverse fish population, snapper, angelfish, wrasse, parrotfish, black tip shark, and millions of common reef fish. Also you can see some rarities, like blue ribbon eels (the juveniles are black) frogfish and unusual scorpion fish and even the rare ghost pipe fish.

Actually your dive in here can be extended, much deeper than 12 meters. If you follow the sandy slope down, you will find barrel sponges with many surprises, juvenile emperor, angelfish, a school of juvenile catfish, a school of razor fish, two spot lion fish, and if you turn to the right toward the drop off, swim along the slope you will arrive at a dry river bed, It is a gray bowl of rock and sand with no structure other than small sound ridges radiating out into deep.

You may meet many photographers and scientists in the Tulamben area and ask them their reason for being there. "The answer is simple" Tulamben is so unique and arguably the best place in Bali to find rare marine animals. Because of the depth, place and location, the coral garden is an outstanding, easy, relaxing and a popular site for night diving.

BATU KELEBIT

Just around the corner from Tulamben bay, 15 minutes by Jukung ( traditional Balinese fishing boat ), At this beautiful site, Batu kelebit there are two large underwater boulders lying just off shore from a point marked by a jagged crest of lava. The dive site is dramatic and consists of steep ridges encrusted with an incredible diversity of hard corals, sea fans, fire coral and sponges and between the ridges separated by valleys of bright white sand. On this dive site not only the colour of the sand differs from Tulamben bay, also the species of even the most common reef fishes are different too!

In fish and invertebrate life, Batu Kelebit is perhaps even richer than Tulamben bay. Because of the steepness of the site combined with the structure of the ridges and plankton rich water, you will have more chance to see big pelagic including dog tooth tuna, mantas, schools of barracuda and you will always see the reef white tip sharks at Batu Kelebit.

Because Batu Kelebit receives deep off shore water, the visibility will be excellent and the temperature a little cold. Current in here usually tends to northwest, however the ridges here provide excellent protection, so it doesn't create any problem at all.

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MENJANGAN

Located on the northwest of Bali, was first famous for its deer (menjangan is Javanese word for “Deer”). When west Bali Park was declared in 1982, Menjangan Island was included as well and the Park Service controls entry and diving the island.

In 1978 menjangan became Bali’s first internationally recognized diving location, with beautiful reef flat. Consequently in 1997 the extensive reef flat at the island suffered damage from crown of thorn starfish, and in 1998, coral bleaching as a result of El Nino.

But the walls, for which menjangan is most famous- are still in excellent condition.
Although it said, the best diving in Menjangan island is during the south east monsoon (about April to November). You can dive at here anytime of the year, choosing sites on the north or south of the island depending on the direction of the wind.
The visibility at Menjangan Island can, at times, be amazing, probably the best in Bali, especially in October and November with horizontal visibility of 50 meters +.
Current is very rare, even 1 knot of current is unusual around the island.
The most recommended dive site in the island are the Angker, Garden eel and pos II.

ANKER

The Anker wreck is a small wooden boat and no one knows its exact name or what brought it to the area. Dive guides have always called this site the Anker wreck, simply because of the large, encrusted anchor that still lies about 6 - 8 meters from the surface.

Once under the water, the wreck is quite easy to find. You just follow the anchor chain down the wall - a steep, terraced slope to 33 meters where the coral yields to sand. Here stands a second anchor also beautifully encrusted and the first few timbers of the wreck are dark against the white sand. Sheets of copper sheathing, bottles, some brown ceramic bottles, part of the ships, cargo, lie in piles on the wood and sand and there are still some parts of the boat, which remain out of the sand and are covered in gorgonians.

After exploring the wreck we follow the wall to the west at 6 - 10 meters with many overhangs, considered as the richest part of the wall, also it is an ideal place for extended safety stop after this dive.

GARDEN EEL

Using the boat we start this dive from the most northwestern tip of Menjangan Island. Just follow the wall from this point, west of the Anker, around the tip and almost into the channel between Menjangan and Bali main land. Once you arrive at this channel, you will see perhaps the richest and healthiest wall on Menjangan Island.

The nicest thing about this dive is that you end in a shallow area full of garden eels. This area is also known for sighting of white tip reef shark, barracuda, turtles, and of course napoleon fish

POS II

The post II Ranger station is located on Menjangan's most southeasterly point, and can be a boat entry or a beach entry. It is usually a relaxing drift dive. The dive starts at 12 meters where the white sandy slope meets the top of the wall. We usually begin our dive to the northeasterly, where the current usually flows. Slowly descending the wall, drifting with the current you will see a profusion of soft corals, sponges, and an abundance of gorgonian.

This stretch is also the best place on Menjangan to see big animal's such as mantas, sharks and other pelagic (depending on season and conditions)

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